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Updated: Sep 4, 2025
Development of a Lateral Flow Immunochromatographic Strip for Rapid and Quantitative Detection of Small Molecule Compounds
Published on: November 13, 2021
Rapid and sensitive detection of zearalenone in corn using SERS-based lateral flow immunosensor
Limei Yin1, Tianyan You2, Hesham R El-Seedi3
1Key Laboratory of Modern Agricultural Equipment and Technology, Ministry of Education, School of Agricultural Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China; School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China.
A new surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) test strip offers a rapid and sensitive method for detecting zearalenone (ZEN) contamination in corn. This SERS assay provides accurate results, making it a promising tool for field testing.
Area of Science:
- Analytical Chemistry
- Food Safety
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Zearalenone (ZEN) is a widespread mycotoxin found in corn and its derivatives, posing a significant risk to food safety.
- Accurate and rapid detection methods for ZEN are crucial for monitoring food contamination levels.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a simple, rapid, and highly sensitive surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) based test strip for the detection of zearalenone (ZEN) in corn.
- To evaluate the performance and accuracy of the developed SERS method compared to traditional techniques.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of core-shell Au@Ag nanoparticles (Au@AgNPs) functionalized with 4-mercaptobenzoic acid (4-MBA) as SERS nanoprobe.
- Development of a SERS-based test strip for ZEN detection.
- Validation of the SERS method using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) on contaminated corn samples.
Main Results:
- The SERS nanoprobe exhibited excellent signal enhancement and stability.
- The developed test strip achieved a detection range of 10-1000 μg/kg for ZEN in corn, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 3.6 μg/kg.
- The SERS assay demonstrated high accuracy, with coincidence rates ranging from 86.06% to 111.23% when compared to HPLC analysis.
Conclusions:
- The SERS-based test strip is a highly sensitive, rapid (analysis time < 15 min), and accurate tool for detecting zearalenone contamination in corn.
- This method shows significant promise for on-site and routine monitoring of ZEN in food products.
- The developed SERS assay offers a viable alternative to conventional methods for mycotoxin detection in agricultural commodities.
