Determination Of Mycotoxins Research Articles

Determination of mycotoxins in breakfast cereals by LC-MS/MS

Breakfast cereals, attributed to low microbiological risk due to their low water activity, are not very innocent due to their components such as cereal, dried fruit and cocoa. Secondary fungal metabolites called mycotoxins are one of the most important risks that these foods can carry. The multimycotoxin level of 140 breakfast cereal samples sold in local markets in Istanbul, Turkiye, was analysed.Samples were tested using the LC-MS/MS technique. Contamination levels of aflatoxin B1, B2, G1, G2, ochratoxin (OTA), zearalenone (ZEN), deoxynivalenol (DON), fumonisin B1, B2, citrinin, HT-2 and T-2 toxins were determined in breakfast cereal.As a result, 71% (n = 100) of the samples were contaminated with at least one mycotoxin. Aflatoxin B1 levels in 17% of the samples and total aflatoxin levels in 31% were determined to exceed the limits defined in the “Turkish Food Codex Contaminants Regulation”. The sample rate containing all toxins (except CIT) above the detection limit was 24%. ZEN + DON + OTA was found in 24% of the samples, total aflatoxins (TAF) + OTA + ZEN in 25%, fumonisins (FUM) + OTA + DON in 29%, and TAF + FUM + OTA + DON + ZEN + HT-2+T-2 in 24% of the samples.Our findings indicate that breakfast cereal samples are susceptible to mycotoxin contamination and necessitate consistent monitoring to ensure safety. The presence of other mycotoxins not included in the legal regulation is noteworthy. Action is needed to prepare a legal regulation on the co-occurrence of mycotoxins.

Simultaneous determination of pesticides, mycotoxins and ferulic acid in Angelica sinensis by GC/LC-Q-TOF/MS

In this study, a strong applicable method that could determine a total of 33 pesticides (54 compounds), 11 mycotoxins and functional components (ferulic acid) simultaneously in Angelica sinensis was developed. The compatibility of the sample pretreatment method for pesticides, mycotoxins, and functional components was improved by optimizing the acidity of extraction solvents, the sequence of ice bath and oscillation, the volumetric solution, and so on. The PRiME HLB SPE pretreatment method was chosen as the optimal one when comparing four pretreatment methods. Among the 65 contaminants, 38 of those determined by liquid chromatography and 41 of those by gas chromatography, which showed good linearity (R2 > 0.9801), 97 % of them had a limit of quantitation (LOQ) of lower than 0.02 mg kg-1. The recovery of all compounds were suited between 70 % to 120 % and the RSD were all lower than 20 % at the spiked levels of LOQ, 2 × LOQ, and 10 × LOQ. For ferulic acid, the LOQ was 50 ng/mL, and it showed good linearity (R2=0.9988) within the range of 0.5 to 10 μg/mL. The recovery and RSD were 98.1 %, and 3.2 % (n = 6), respectively. The simultaneous determination of cross-category compounds in a single sample preparation was obtained by the combination of SPE and GC/LC-Q-TOF/MS. Therefore, this study could not only shorten the time for data acquisition and data analysis, but also improve the experimental efficiency.

Occurrence of mycotoxins of the beauvericin and enniatin groups in infant foods and risk assessment study

The aim of this study was the determination of mycotoxins belonging to beauvericin and enniatin groups in infant foods to be considered for the assessment of dietary exposure. The extraction phase with acetonitrile was followed by a purification step before liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. The method was suitable to detect these mycotoxins in different categories of infant foods (cereal-based creams, biscuits, and pasta) at concentrations between 0.30 μg/kg for beauvericin and enniatin A and 0.60 μg/kg for the remaining enniatins (A1, B and B1) up to a maximum of 20 μg/kg. Beauvericin was the most detected mycotoxin in pasta samples (15%) at a maximum concentration of 1.1 μg/kg, while enniatin B showed the highest presence (90%) in biscuits, at levels ranging from 0.63 to 11 μg/kg. Enniatin B1 was found in all matrices at comparable ranks of positivity, with the highest occurrence rate (30%) in biscuits. The highest estimated daily intake was observed in infant consumers aged 1–3 years and was associated with the consumption of biscuits, followed by samples of pasta and cereal-based creams. It was higher in infants than in children aged 4–9 years due to consumption data expressed per kg of body weight. The lowest estimated daily intake was obtained for beauvericin in all matrices as its concentrations were lower than those of the enniatin group. The results of this study highlighted the need to implement monitoring also for these mycotoxin groups, paying particular attention to infants as a high-risk category.

Establishment of appropriate conditions for the efficient determination of multiple mycotoxins in tea samples and assessment of their drinking risks

Conditions were determined for rapid, convenient, and efficient determination of 16 common mycotoxins in tea samples. Mycotoxins in tea leaves and tea infusion samples were extracted using solid-liquid extraction/liquid-liquid extraction combined with ultrasonic-assisted extraction. The extraction solvent was 2-butanone/ethyl acetate (9/1 v/v) with 0.1 % formic acid. The established conditions enabled the analysis of these mycotoxins by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) in 5.5 min. In addition, HPLC with a temperature-controlled fluorescence detector was able to simultaneously determine 8 mycotoxins with fluorescent properties in 10 min without derivatization. Aflatoxin M1 (2.15 and 3.01 μg/kg), fumonisin B2 (198.89 μg/kg), and zearalenone (87.54 μg/kg) could be detected in commercially available pu-erh tea, green tea, and black tea products, and their total transfer rates from the products to brewed tea infusions were 64.08–65.13 %, 90.59 %, and 25.99 %, respectively. The risks of drinking mycotoxins from these tea infusions mostly showed low levels of concern.

Sanitary and Chemical Analysis of Drinking Water and Laboratory Control of the Content of Toxic Elements of Pesticides and Mycotoxins in Food Products

Relevance of the study: nutrition is the most important factor in maintaining health, normal growth and development of children and adolescents, preventing a number of diseases, maintaining high performance of the adult population, maintaining active longevity. Drinking water and food are necessary for the existence of humans and all life on Earth. Issues related to increasing responsibility for the effectiveness and objectivity of quality control of drinking water and food products are relevant in guaranteeing their safety for the health of consumers. Objectives of the study: to study the quality of drinking water and the efficiency of the water supply system in Osh in the period from 2020 to 2023; analysis of compliance of drinking water quality with sanitary and chemical standards; development of recommendations for improving the quality of water and the water supply system in Osh. Determination of toxic elements, pesticides and mycotoxins in food products, determination of physicochemical indicators and toxic elements in drinking water, pesticides and mycotoxins in food products was carried out in accordance with regulatory documents of GOST and the maximum permissible concentration. The test results showed the normal and permissible levels of pH, total iron, fluorides, hardness, dry residue, ammonia, nitrates, etc. in water, and the content of aflatoxin B1, the mass concentration of cadmium and lead, hexachlorane, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane in food products. For a more in-depth analysis, it is recommended to use additional data on climatic conditions, geological features of the region, as well as the demographic situation in Osh.

Effect of Nixtamalization on Aflatoxins, Functional and Acceptability of Maize from Mulindi, Rwanda

Rwanda relies highly on maize for human food as well as for animal feed and industrial uses. However, high temperature and wet climate conditions in Rwanda favor the growth of fungi that may lead to mycotoxin contamination in maize and subsequent degradation of its quality. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effect of nixtamalization on the aflatoxins, the functional and acceptability of maize grains from Mulindi, Rwanda. The maize samples were collected from the Mulindi market in Rwanda; representative samples were collected by the guidelines for sampling food for mycotoxin determination. Subsequently, the treated maize samples were dry-milled to produce fine flour, and the flour obtained was analyzed for swelling capacity, water absorption capacity, water solubility, acceptability, and aflatoxins, which were quantified by the HPLC method. The HPLC results showed that the highest total aflatoxin level in maize grains was 44.99 ppb. Cooking maize in water and calcium hydroxide of 1% resulted in a reduction of aflatoxin with degradation percentages of 25% and 88%, respectively. However, in all treatments, aflatoxins B1 and B2 were less reduced compared to aflatoxins G1 and G2. Cooking maize in pure water showed the lowest reduction of aflatoxin compared to the other treatments. However, cooking maize in water with 1% calcium hydroxide decreased aflatoxin to a higher percentage. Cooking maize in lime enhanced the swelling capacity, water absorption capacity, and water solubility of maize, as well as its acceptability. However, the nixtamalization process was observed to reduce aflatoxins levels in maize and improve the functional properties of maize, and therefore, its application could be encouraged for safe products in the market.

A miniaturized QuEChERS and UPLC–MS/MS method for the determination of mycotoxins in cashew nuts

This study aimed to develop and validate a multi-mycotoxin analysis method applied to cashew nuts by employing a miniaturized QuEChERS method followed by determination by ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC–MS/MS). Satisfactory recoveries for the concentrations 1, 10 and 30 ng g−1, ranging from 66% (fumonisin B1) to 110% (ochratoxin A) and relative standard deviations lower than 9% (fumonisin B2) were obtained for the target compounds. Limits of quantification ranged from 0.004 ng g−1 (sterigmatocystin) to 0.59 ng g−1 (alternariol). The applicability of the analytical method was verified by analyzing 30 cashew nut samples from the city of Rio de Janeiro, RJ, southeastern Brazil. Aflatoxins M1, G2, G1, B2, B1, ochratoxin A and sterigmatocystin were detected, respectively, in 27%, 10%, 17%, 30%, 30%, 30% and 50% of the analyzed samples, at maximum concentrations of 0.56, 0.67, 1.43, 2.02, 4.93, 4.81, and 0.35 ng g−1. The maximum limit established by Brazilian legislation for aflatoxins was not exceeded by any of the analyzed samples.

Simultaneous detection of five mycotoxins in traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) by visual protein microarray

The pollution of mycotoxins to crops such as traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) is an established problem throughout the world. Thus, mycotoxin determination in TCMs during production and processing is significantly necessary, which means rapid, sensitive and accurate analytical methods are needed. In this work, a new method of visual protein microarray based on a 96-well microtiter plate was proposed. Combined with a colorimetric method, five mycotoxins (ochratoxin A, zearalenone, deoxynivalenol, aflatoxin B1 and fumonisin B1) in 90 samples (TCMs) could be detected simultaneously within 30 minutes. The detection limits for the five mycotoxins are 0.25 μg/kg, 0.33 μg/kg, 11.84 μg/kg, 0.06 μg/kg, and 3.58 μg/kg, which can satisfy specified requirements of mycotoxins in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2020 edition) adequately. Under repeated conditions, experiments were carried out on actual samples to verify the feasibility of the method. The results showed that the recoveries of all analytes were between 70 % and 120 %, and the relative standard deviations were less than 15 %. In comparison to LC-MS/MS, this method significantly reduces the required time, and the colorimetric technique offers more direct results compared to fluorescence-based screening assays. This method exhibits substantial potential for the rapid and sensitive on-site detection of TCMs for quality control.

Mycotoxins: Their presence in food and relationship with nanoparticles

Mycotoxins are toxic compounds that are produced by certain fungi species; these compounds are found in many food products and may have detrimental effects on the health of human beings and livestock. Mycotoxins spoilage in food triggers both short-term and long-term effects including upset stomachs, liver, kidney, and neurological disorders. Typically used inspection methods for determination of mycotoxins in foods are cumbersome, tedious, and can sometimes give out inaccurate results. Therefore, there is a need for improvement in the approaches used for early detection of mycotoxins and the control of mycotoxin contamination in foods. As for the fourth direction, we can pinpoint nanotechnology for the detection of mycotoxin and their prevention as a promising field of study. When manipulated for use in food, the small size, geometry and surface characteristics of nanoparticles can be used to improve the detection and elimination of mycotoxins in foods. To date, implementation of nanoparticles in food safety is rather limited; however, the potentials of the technology have been highlighted by the existing studies. For instance, some current research has ascertained that nanoparticles are capable of adsorbing mycotoxins so that these toxins are easily separated from the food products. Also, nanoparticles can also be applied for the purpose of degrading or neutralizing mycotoxin.

Biosensors for Food Mycotoxin Determination: A Comparative and Critical Review

The need for performant analytical methodologies to assess mycotoxins is vital, given the negative health impact of these compounds. Biosensors are analytical devices that consist of a biological element for recognizing the analyte and a transducer, which translates the biorecognition event into a signal proportional to the analyte concentration. The biorecognition elements can be enzymes, antibodies, or DNA fragments. The modalities of detection can be optical, electrochemical, thermal, or mass-sensitive. These analytical tools represent viable alternatives to laborious, expensive traditional methods and are characterized by specificity given by the biorecognition element, sensitivity, fast response, portability, multi-modal detection, and the possibility of in situ application. The present paper focuses on a comprehensive view, enriched with a critical, comparative perspective on mycotoxin assay using biosensors. The use of different biorecognition elements and detection modes are discussed comparatively. Nanomaterials with optical and electrochemical features can be exploited in association with a variety of biorecognition elements. Analytical parameters are reviewed along with a broad range of applications.

Influence of regional and yearly weather patterns on multi-mycotoxin occurrence in Austrian wheat: a liquid chromatographic-tandem mass spectrometric and multivariate statistics approach.

Mycotoxin surveys play an essential role in our food safety system. The obtained occurrence data form the basis for the assessment of the exposure of humans and animals to these toxic fungal secondary metabolites. Liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) has become the gold standard for mycotoxin determination because it enables selective and sensitive multi-toxin analysis. Simultaneous determination of several hundreds of secondary fungal metabolites is feasible using this technique. In this study, we combined a targeted dilute-and-shoot LC-MS/MS-based multi-analyte approach with multivariate statistics for the analysis of Austrian wheat from two different years and different geographical origins. We quantified 47 secondary fungal metabolites, including regulated emerging and masked mycotoxins. The resulting multi-mycotoxin occurrence data were further analyzed using both multivariate and univariate statistics. Principal component analysis (PCA) and analysis of variance (ANOVA) simultaneous component analysis (ASCA) were employed to identify regional and yearly trends within the dataset and to quantify the variance in metabolite occurrence attributed to the different effects. In addition, secondary fungal metabolites significantly impacted by these factors were selected via ANOVA. Of the 47 secondary metabolites identified, 39 were affected by the year, region or a combined effect. Moreover, our findings show that 43 of the secondary fungal metabolites were significantly influenced by the weather conditions. The results presented in this study underline the added value of combining targeted LC-MS/MS with multivariate statistics for monitoring a broad spectrum of secondary fungal metabolites in food crops. Through multivariate statistics, trends associated with the year or region can be readily studied. The approach presented could pave the way for a better understanding of the impact of climate change on plant pathogenic fungi and its implications for food safety. © 2024 The Author(s). Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Rapid, on-site quantitative determination of mycotoxins in grains using a multiple time-resolved fluorescent microsphere immunochromatographic test strip

The label probe plays a crucial role in enhancing the sensitivity of lateral flow immunoassays. However, conventional fluorescent microspheres (FMs) have limitations due to their short fluorescence lifetime, susceptibility to background fluorescence interference, and inability to facilitate multi-component detection. In this study, carboxylate-modified Eu(III)-chelate-doped polystyrene nanobeads were employed as label probes to construct a multiple time-resolved fluorescent microsphere-based immunochromatographic test strip (TRFM-ICTS). This novel TRFM-ICTS facilitated rapid on-site quantitative detection of three mycotoxins in grains: Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), Zearalenone (ZEN), and Deoxynivalenol (DON). The limit of detection (LOD) for AFB1, ZEN, and DON were found to be 0.03 ng/g, 0.11 ng/g, and 0.81 ng/g, respectively. Furthermore, the TRFM-ICTS demonstrated a wide detection range for AFB1 (0.05–8.1 ng/g), ZEN (0.125–25 ng/g), and DON (1.0–234 ng/g), while maintaining excellent selectivity. Notably, the test strip exhibited remarkable stability, retaining its detection capability even after storage at 4 °C for over one year. Importantly, the detection of these mycotoxins relied solely on simple manual operations, and with a portable reader, on-site detection could be accomplished within 20 min. This TRFM-ICTS presents a promising solution for sensitive on-site mycotoxin detection, suitable for practical application in various settings due to its sensitivity, accuracy, simplicity, and portability.

The determination of mycotoxins using isotope-coded labeling and dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction by high throughput flow injection analysis coupled with tandem mass spectrometry

A novel and rapid method for the determination of ochratoxin A (OTA), funmonisin B1 (FB1) and zearalenone (ZEN) in legumes samples by high throughput flow injection analysis-tandem mass spectrometry (FIA-MS/MS) in conjunction with isotope-coded labeling (ICD) coupled with dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME) was developed. The samples were extracted by a known QuEChERS method (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, Safe). The extracted components and mycotoxin standards were, respectively, labeled by d0-10-methyl-acridone-2-sulfonyl chloride and its deuterated counter part (d3-MASC). Subsequently, the mixed light-/heavy-labeled solutions were enriched and purified by DLLME method and corresponding extracts were directly used for FIA-MS/MS analysis. The FIA-MS/MS method coupled with ICD-coded labeling technique for the determination of mycotoxins in legume samples could be achieved within 2 min, which was much suitable for high throughput screening analysis. Meanwhile, the labeled mycotoxins with d3-MASC as internal standards could effectively eliminate matrix interference and ensure the accuracy and precision of mass spectrometry analysis. The limits of detection (LODs) and the limits of quantification (LOQs) ranged from 0.29 to 0.42 μg/L and 0.85 to 1.30 μg/L, respectively. The recoveries were 66.9 %–85.2 %, and the daily and inter day RSDs were within the range of 2.0 %–4.9 % and 2.4 %–5.0 %, respectively. The established method could be feasibility applied to the determination of mycotoxins in legume samples with satisfactory results.

FT-IR Characterization and Determination of Mycotoxins (Aflatoxins) (AF’s) from Branded & Unbranded Mixed Spice Samples

Background: The global spice market is essential to food industry and public health due to the widespread use of spices as flavor enhancers, preservatives, and medicinal components. However, the quality of spices can be compromised by the presence of mycotoxins, specifically aflatoxins, which pose significant health risks. Ensuring the quality and safety of spices, both branded and unbranded, is of paramount concern, especially in regions with high humidity and temperature that can facilitate fungal growth and mycotoxin production. Objective: This study aimed to assess the quality of branded and unbranded spice samples from Sindh, Pakistan, by determining their ash content, moisture level, oil composition, and mycotoxin (aflatoxin) content to ensure their suitability for consumption and adherence to food safety standards. Methods: A total of ten spice samples (five branded and five unbranded) were collected from different cities in Sindh province, Pakistan. Ash content was measured by high-temperature oxidation, while moisture content was quantified through oven drying. Oil was extracted using a Soxhlet apparatus, and its quality parameters, including free fatty acid (FFA), peroxide, iodine, and saponification values, were determined using standard AOCS methods. Aflatoxins were quantified by employing an official AOAC method. Additionally, FT-IR spectroscopy was utilized for qualitative analysis of the spice oils. Results: The ash content varied widely, with the highest in unbranded samples at 18.33% and the lowest in branded at 5.67%. Moisture content across all samples was within the safe limit of 5-10%, with the highest at 4.46% and the lowest at 2.22%. The oil content ranged from 5.96% to 14.56%, with unbranded samples showing higher values. FFA values exceeded the standard 0.1% in all samples, indicating a potential quality concern. Peroxide values were higher than the standard 2 meq/mol in most samples, raising concerns about oxidative stability. Aflatoxin levels were within the EU regulatory limits, suggesting acceptable levels for consumption. FT-IR analysis corroborated these findings, revealing no significant differences in the spectral profiles between branded and unbranded samples. Conclusion: The study concluded that while moisture content and aflatoxin levels in the spice samples complied with safety standards, there were notable concerns regarding the ash content, oil quality, and peroxide values. These findings highlight the necessity for regular quality control measures and adherence to food safety regulations to ensure the safety of spice consumption.

Electrochemical immunosensor based on antibody-oriented probe for the detection of AFB1 in rice bran oil

Aflatoxin B1 is one of the most toxic mycotoxins, posing a serious threat to human health. There is an urgent need to develop sensitive, rapid and selective ways for the detection of AFB1. Herein, an electrochemical immunosensor was fabricated using the antibody-oriented probe (gold nanoparticle-Streptococcal protein A-anti-AFB1 monoclonal antibody, AuNP-SPA-mAb) to analyze AFB1 in rice bran oil. AuNP-SPA-mAb probe was constructed by the introduction of streptococcal protein A to ensure the controlled immobilization of antibody. AFB1 competed with antigen loaded on the gold electrode for binding AuNP-SPA-mAb in the presence of the target AFB1, inhibiting the capture of horse radish peroxidase (HRP)-labeled second antibody. Subsequently, HRP could facilitate the oxidization of hydroquinone in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, resulting in the production of an electrochemical signal. Under optimal conditions, this immunosensor displayed a linear range of 10–8000 pg/mL and a limit of detection of 2.2 pg/mL. The fabricated immunosensor was further utilized to verify the potential application by detecting samples of rice bran oil. Recovery rates varied from 88.0% to 107.9%. This immunosensor provides a highly sensitive and rapid approach for the determination of such mycotoxins.

Multi-plug Filtration Purification Combined with High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry for the Simultaneous Determination of Pesticides, Veterinary Drugs, Mycotoxins, and Persistent Organic Pollutants in Livestock and Poultry Meat

Multi-plug Filtration Purification Combined with High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry for the Simultaneous Determination of Pesticides, Veterinary Drugs, Mycotoxins, and Persistent Organic Pollutants in Livestock and Poultry Meat

Developments in analytical techniques for mycotoxin determination: an update for 2022-23

Abstract This review summarises developments published in the period from mid-2022 to mid-2023 on the analysis of a variety of matrices for mycotoxins. Important developments in all aspects of mycotoxin determination, from sampling and quality assurance/quality control of analytical results, to the various detection and quantitation technologies ranging from single mycotoxin biosensors to comprehensive instrumental methods are presented and discussed. This non-exhaustive summary and associated discussion covers such technology as chromatography with targeted or non-targeted high resolution mass spectrometry, detection other than mass spectrometry such as fluorescence or diode array detection, biosensors, as well as assays using alternatives to antibodies. This collaborative critical review intends to guide readers to relevant research by briefly presenting the most important developments in mycotoxin determination published in the past year. This review also relays limitations of the presented methodologies, in order to provide a thorough assessment of the analytical developments.

Fabrication of polydopamine functionalized AgNF SERS substrate: Applications for sensitive detection of nivalenol in food samples and cell biocompatibility

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is a robust analytical tool applicable for the quick and accurate determination of mycotoxins. However, there hasn't been any attempt to use SERS for the quantitative detection of nivalenol (NIV) thus far. To improve the Raman signals of NIV, we fabricated a polydopamine-coated silver nanoflower (PDA-AgNFs) SERS substrate with strong “hot-spots”. The PDA-AgNFs substrates showed superior SERS enhancement activities in the target analyte detection and quantification. It produced good substrate uniformity (relative standard deviation of SERS signals, RSD = 4.1% for substrate-to-substrate test, and 3.24% for spot-to-spot test), an enhancement factor of 2.87 × 106 towards rhodamine 6B (R6G), and detection sensitivity as low as 1 femtomolar (10−15 M) against R6G probe molecule. Moreover, the PDA-AgNFs SERS substrates were successfully used, for the first time, to detect NIV in corn, horse beans, and mushroom samples. The calibration curve showed a satisfactory linear fit based on the SERS intensities of different NIV concentrations. The detection limit (LOD) for the suggested approach was 0.22 nM (S/N = 3). Interestingly, the MTT assay experiment demonstrated that PDA-AgNFs had no toxicity against mammalian NIH-3T3 cells. The biocompatible PDA-AgNFs substrates with intense plasmonic effects and binding sites demonstrated impressive Raman enhancement, and could serve as an effective, label-free, and fast SERS-based analysis of NIV in real samples.

Determination of Mycotoxins in Plant-Based Meat Alternatives (PBMAs) and Ingredients after Microwave Cooking.

In this study, we investigate the role of microwave cooking in reducing mycotoxin contamination in plant-based food matrices, with a focus on veggie burgers (purchased and home-made) and their ingredients (soybean, potatoes, zucchini, carrots). Two different conditions were studied (Max-Min) that were 800 W for 60 s and 800 W for 90 s, respectively. The degradation patterns of aflatoxins (AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, AFG2), fumonisins (FB1, FB2, FB3), trichothecenes (T2, HT2, ZEA), and ochratoxin A (OTA) were studied. The extraction procedures were conducted with the QuEChERS extraction, and the analyses were conducted with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that degradation under microwave cooking varies considerably across different food matrices and cooking conditions. This study provides valuable insights into the degradation of mycotoxins during microwave cooking and underscores the need for more research in this area to ensure food safety.

Levan modified patulin specific impedimetric aptasensor with its application in food and biological fluids

In this study, a label-free impedimetric aptasensor was developed for the determination of patulin (PAT) mycotoxin. The pencil graphite electrode (PGE) surface was modified with the levan and then PAT-specific aptamer was immobilized onto the PGE surface. After the interaction of PAT with aptamer EIS measurements were performed. Under optimum conditions, the limit of detection (LOD) in buffer medium was calculated as 0.095 pg/mL in the concentration range of 10−1–105 pg/mL. The selectivity of the developed label-free impedimetric aptasensor was investigated against fumonisin B1 (FB1), ochratoxin A (OTA), and deoxynivalenol (DON) in buffer medium. The implementation of label-free impedimetric aptasensor to patulin determination was performed in apple juice samples as well as in fetal bovine serum (FBS) medium. Accordingly, the LOD of PAT was estimated as 3.27 pg/mL in apple juice and 0.41 pg/mL in the FBS medium. The selectivity of the aptasensor was also investigated in both mediums. It is predicted that the developed aptasensor will have an important place in the fields of food safety and health monitoring in the literature. Also, it is anticipated that the electrochemical determination of mycotoxins, especially in biological fluids, will be a role model for future studies.