Abstract
Lateral flow immunochromatographic assays are a powerful diagnostic tool for point-of-care tests, based on their simplicity, specificity, and sensitivity. In this study, a rapid and sensitive gold nanoparticle (AuNP) immunochromatographic strip is produced for detecting aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in suspicious fungi-contaminated food samples. The 10 nm AuNPs were encompassed by bovine serum albumin (BSA) and AFB1 antibody. Thin-layer chromatography, gel electrophoresis and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy were employed for analysing the chemical complexes. Various concentrations of AFB1 antigen (0–16 ng/mL) were tested with AFB1 antibody–BSA–AuNPs (conjugated AuNPs) and then analysed by scanning electron microscopy, ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, and Zetasizer. The results showed that the AFB1 antibody was coupled to BSA by the N-hydroxysuccinimide ester method. The AuNPs application has the potential to contribute to AFB1 detection by monitoring a visible colour change from red to purple-blue, with a detection limit of 2 ng/mL in a 96-well plate. The lateral flow immunochromatographic strip tests are rapid, taking less than 10 min., and they have a detection capacity of 10 ng/g. The smartphone analysis of strips provided the results in 3 s, with a detection limit of 0.3 ng/g for AFB1 when the concentration was below 10 ng/g. Excellent agreement was found with AFB1 determination by high-performance liquid chromatography in the determination of AFB1 among 20 samples of peanuts, corn, rice, and bread.
Highlights
Aflatoxins (AFLs) are poisonous carcinogens and mutagens to both humans and animals that are produced by fungi [1]
The reaction product was analysed by Thin-layer chromatography (TLC), gel electrophoresis, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) in order to confirm the coupling of Aflatoixin B1 (AFB1) antibody to AuNPs
The results demonstrated that the Lateral flow immunochromatographic/immunoassay strips (LFIAs) that were developed in this study could be useful as a quantitative and qualitative method for AFB1 detection in real samples
Summary
Aflatoxins (AFLs) are poisonous carcinogens and mutagens to both humans and animals that are produced by fungi [1]. Different commodities, such as corn, peanuts, and grains, have been frequently found to be contaminated with AFLs [2,3]. The South American trade bloc Mercosur has established permitted contamination limits for peanuts and peanut paste as 20 μg/kg for total AFLs and 5 μg/kg for Aflatoixin B1 (AFB1) [8]. The European Economic Community (EEC) has established permitted food contamination limits of 2 μg/kg for AFB1 and 4 μg/kg for the total concentration of the four AFLs since 1 February 1999 [9]. It is necessary to develop strategies for achieving the limits of AFL contamination and reducing AFL exposure in vulnerable populations [10]
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