Rapid and Label-Free Electrochemical Detection of Fumonisin-B1 Using Microfluidic Biosensing Platform Based on Ag-CeO2 Nanocomposite

Abstract

Food contamination by mycotoxins is a major problem. Fumonisin-B1 (FU-B1) is one of the most abundantly found mycotoxins in products such as corn, rice, maize, and wheat, causing some of the most contagious diseases, such as pulmonary edema, hydrothorax, and immunosuppression, and is possibly carcinogenic. Its rapid and early detection in food products is therefore vital. We have fabricated an electrochemical microfluidic biosensing platform to detect FU-B1 with silver-ceria nanocomposite using maskless lithography. Structural characterizations confirmed nanocubes formation (CeO2) and spherical structures (Ag) with no impurities. The resulting nanobiochip showed an excellent linear response to antigen-FU-B1. linear detection was obtained from 10 pg ml−1−100 ng ml−1 with high sensitivity as 7.33 μA (log (ng. ml−1))−1cm−2. Limit of detection and limit of quantification were obtained as 1.5 pg. ml−1, and 3.9 pg. ml−1, respectively. Reynold’s number was found to be 0.79, showing the fluid’s laminar flow inside the channel. Interference studies showed specificity toward FU-B1 detection. Applicability in real food samples was assessed using spiked corn samples and showed recovery of up to 85% with excellent linear response. These results indicate that an electrochemical microfluidic nanobiochip can be used for rapid, label-free, and highly sensitive detection of antigen FU-B1.