Aflatoxin-specific monoclonal antibody selection for immunoaffinity column development

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Immunochemistry
• Food Safety

Background:

• Antibodies are essential for immunoassays, but their selection significantly impacts assay success.
• Developing specific and robust immunoaffinity columns requires careful antibody characterization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce an effective antibody selection procedure for developing immunoaffinity columns targeting aflatoxins.
• To comparatively evaluate eight monoclonal antibodies based on specific criteria.

Main Methods:

• A novel antibody selection scheme emphasizing solvent and matrix characterization was employed.
• Eight monoclonal antibodies were evaluated for their tolerance to various organic solvents and interaction with food matrices.
• The selected antibody was used to develop immunoaffinity columns.

Main Results:

• The chosen antibody demonstrated tolerance to 40% methanol, 20% acetonitrile, 30% acetone, and 40% ethanol.
• The antibody showed no cross-reactivity with extracts from corn, red pepper, and hazelnut.
• Immunoaffinity columns developed using this antibody were successfully validated by 15 independent laboratories.

Conclusions:

• The developed antibody selection procedure is effective for creating high-performance immunoaffinity columns for aflatoxin analysis.
• The selected antibody offers excellent tolerance to solvents and matrix components, ensuring reliable aflatoxin detection.