Microfluidic immunosensor with magnetic nanoparticles for the Ochratoxin A determination in apple samples contaminated with Aspergillus ochraceus

MARTÍN A. FERNÁNDEZ-BALDO; FRANCO A. BERTOLINO; GASTÓN FERNÁNDEZ; GERMÁN A. MESSINA; MARÍA I. SANZ ; JULIO RABA

ANALYST

ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY

Lugar: 136 (2011) 2756-2762; Año: 2011 vol. 136 p. 2756 - 2762

0003-2654

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin produced by filamentous fungi of the genus Aspergillus andPenicillium that presents carcinogenic, teratogenic and nephrotoxic properties. In this work, we havedeveloped, characterized and applied an immunoassay methodology comprised of magneticnanoparticles (MNPs) as platform for immobilizing bioactive materials incorporated intoa microfluidic system for rapid and sensitive quantification of Ochratoxin A (OTA) in apples(Red Delicious) contaminated with Aspergillus ochraceus. The sensor has the potential for automationand the detection of OTA was carried out using a competitive indirect immunoassay method based onthe use of anti-OTA monoclonal antibodies immobilized on 3-aminopropyl-modified MNPs. The totalassay time into the microfluidic competitive immunosensor was 16 min, and the calculated detectionlimit was 0.05 mg kg
1. Moreover, the intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation were below 6.5%.The proposed method can be a very promising analytical tool for the determination of OTA inapparently healthy fruits post-harvest and for its application in the agricultural industry