ELIME (enzyme linked immuno magnetic electrochemical) method for mycotoxin detection

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Food Safety
• Biosensors

Background:

• Mycotoxins like HT-2 and T-2 pose significant risks to human health.
• Traditional methods (HPLC, GC) for mycotoxin detection are time-consuming and expensive.
• Development of rapid and cost-effective screening methods is crucial for food safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate an electrochemical competitive Enzyme-linked immunomagnetic assay (ELISA) for the simultaneous detection of HT-2 and T-2 toxins.
• To utilize magnetic beads and screen-printed electrodes for a sensitive and efficient immunoassay platform.
• To provide a viable alternative to conventional quantitative methods for mycotoxin screening in food commodities.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of an electrochemical assay using magnetic beads for immunochemical capture and screen-printed electrodes as the sensing platform.
• Immobilization of HT2-KLH conjugate on magnetic beads, followed by a competitive binding step with a monoclonal antibody against HT-2 and T-2 toxins.
• Detection of bound antibody using a secondary antibody labeled with alkaline phosphatase (AP) and enzymatic substrate.
• Quantification via Differential Pulse Voltammetry (DPV) using a portable instrument.

Main Results:

• The developed assay enables the simultaneous detection of HT-2 and T-2 toxins with high sensitivity due to a monoclonal antibody with 100% cross-reactivity.
• The amount of bound antibody is inversely proportional to the concentration of toxins in the sample.
• The use of magnetic beads and screen-printed electrodes facilitates efficient sample processing and rapid measurement.

Conclusions:

• The electrochemical competitive Enzyme-linked immunomagnetic assay is a promising tool for rapid and sensitive screening of HT-2 and T-2 toxins in food.
• This method offers a cost-effective and time-saving alternative to traditional analytical techniques.
• The portable nature of the detection instrument allows for potential on-site food safety monitoring.