Rapid Pomegranate Juice Authentication Using a Simple Sample-to-Answer Hybrid Paper/Polymer-Based Lab-on-a-Chip...

Area of Science:

• Food Science and Technology
• Analytical Chemistry
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Pomegranate juice is a popular, high-value product susceptible to adulteration with cheaper fruit juices like apple and grape.
• Authenticating pomegranate juice is crucial for consumer protection and maintaining market integrity.
• Existing analytical methods can be complex, time-consuming, or require specialized equipment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a sensitive and specific analytical method for authenticating pomegranate juice.
• To create a simplified, integrated lab-on-a-chip (LOC) device for rapid juice analysis.
• To enable cost-effective and accessible pomegranate juice authentication, particularly in resource-limited environments.

Main Methods:

• Development of a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for detecting pomegranate, apple, and grape DNA.
• Design and fabrication of a hybrid paper/polymer-based LOC platform integrating DNA extraction, LAMP, and result visualization.
• Utilizing a portable, homemade heating device for near instrument-free operation.

Main Results:

• The LAMP assay demonstrated high sensitivity (10 pg for pomegranate DNA, 100 pg for apple/grape DNA) and specificity.
• The integrated LOC device successfully detected adulteration in small sample volumes (2 μL pomegranate, 5 μL apple/grape juice).
• The complete analysis, including DNA extraction and detection, was achieved in approximately 1 hour with minimal instrumentation.

Conclusions:

• The developed LAMP-based LOC device provides a rapid, sensitive, and cost-effective solution for authenticating pomegranate juice.
• This technology has significant potential for adoption by regulatory bodies and the food industry for routine quality control.
• The simple, portable nature of the device makes it suitable for use in diverse settings, including those with limited resources.