A portable electrochemiluminescence aptasensor for β-lactoglobulin detection

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Food Science
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Cow's milk allergy affects approximately 2.5% of children, with beta-lactoglobulin (β-LG) being a primary allergen.
• Regulatory bodies list milk as a common allergen, necessitating reliable detection methods in food products.
• β-LG serves as a potential marker for identifying milk presence in various food items.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate an electrochemiluminescence (ECL) aptasensor for quantifying β-LG in real food samples.
• To assess the sensor's performance characteristics, including specificity, sensitivity, portability, and cost-effectiveness.
• To evaluate the sensor's applicability in analyzing both dairy and non-dairy food matrices.

Main Methods:

• Development of an aptasensor utilizing electrochemiluminescence (ECL) technology.
• Quantification of β-LG using the developed aptasensor in standard solutions and real food samples.
• Validation of the sensor's performance by analyzing skimmed milk and an oat-based drink.

Main Results:

• A strong linear correlation (R² = 0.99) was observed between signal intensity and β-LG concentration.
• The aptasensor demonstrated high sensitivity with a limit of detection (LOD) of 1.36 μg L⁻¹ and a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 4.55 μg L⁻¹.
• Successful quantification of β-LG was achieved in both skimmed milk and an oat-based milk alternative.

Conclusions:

• The developed ECL aptasensor is a highly specific, sensitive, portable, and cost-effective tool for β-LG quantification.
• This sensor enables accurate milk detection in diverse food matrices, including plant-based alternatives.
• The findings support the use of this aptasensor for reliable milk allergen monitoring in the food industry.