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Analysis of Bovine Lactoferrin in Infant Formula and Adult Nutritional Products by Optical Biosensor Immunoassay:
Brendon D Gill1, Tadashi Kobayashi1, Jackie E Wood1
1Fonterra Co-operative Group Ltd, PO Box 7, Waitoa 3380, New Zealand.
Background:
Bovine lactoferrin is increasingly being used as an ingredient in infant formula manufacture to enhance nutritional efficacy through the provision of immunoprotective, growth, and antimicrobial factors to the neonate.
Objective:
To evaluate the analytical performance of an optical biosensor immunoassay for compliance with the method performance requirements described in SMPR 2020.005.
Method:
Following dilution of the sample in buffer, an automated, label-free, real-time optical biosensor immunoassay was used in a direct assay format to quantitate bovine lactoferrin by its interaction with an immobilized anti-lactoferrin antibody. Quantitation was accomplished by the external standard technique with interpolation from a 4-parameter calibration regression.
Results:
The analytical range (0-200 mg/hg), method detection limit (0.8 mg/hg), recovery (96.1-109.2%), and repeatability (1.0-5.3%) complied with the requirements given in the lactoferrin SMPR. The method was shown to be specific for native, intact lactoferrin; thermally denatured lactoferrin generated no measurable binding response.
Conclusion:
The method described is suitable for the quantification of intact, undenatured lactoferrin in milk products, infant formulas (bovine milk protein-based, soy protein-based, and amino acid-based), and adult nutritionals and has been demonstrated to meet the performance requirements defined in SMPR 2020.005.
Highlights:
A single-laboratory validation (SLV) of an automated biosensor immunoassay for the determination of intact, undenatured lactoferrin is described.
