Rapid analysis of coumarins using surface plasmon resonance

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry and Analytical Chemistry
• Immunosensor Technology

Background:

• Coumarins are naturally occurring compounds with significant biological activity, including therapeutic (e.g., warfarin) and toxic (e.g., aflatoxin B1) properties.
• The potent bioactivity of coumarins necessitates reliable, sensitive, and rapid detection methods for both clinical and food safety applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and compare current analytical methods for coumarin detection.
• To evaluate the efficacy of immunoassay-based strategies, specifically using a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor with coumarin-specific antibodies.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of existing coumarin analytical techniques.
• Development and application of an SPR-based biosensor utilizing polyclonal, monoclonal, and recombinant coumarin-specific antibodies.
• Assay development charting sensitivity and reproducibility.

Main Results:

• The SPR biosensor demonstrated high sensitivity and excellent reproducibility in coumarin detection.
• Performance of the antibody-based biosensor favorably compared with established coumarin analysis methodologies.
• Successful application of coumarin-specific antibodies in an immunoassay format for molecular analysis.

Conclusions:

• Immunoassay strategies, particularly SPR biosensors with specific antibodies, represent a powerful approach for sensitive coumarin detection.
• The developed coumarin biosensor offers a viable alternative to conventional methods, providing rapid and reliable analysis.