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Updated: Aug 16, 2025
Rapid Homogeneous Detection of Biological Assays Using Magnetic Modulation Biosensing System
Published on: June 13, 2010
Ergometrine sensing in rye flour by a magnetic bead-based immunoassay followed by flow injection analysis with
Soraya Höfs1, Valerie Jaut2, Rudolf J Schneider3
1Department of Analytical Chemistry; Reference Materials; Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM); Richard-Willstätter-Straße 11, 12489, Berlin, Germany; Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 24 - 25, 14476, Potsdam, Germany.
Abstract:
A certain group of mycotoxins, the ergot alkaloids, has caused countless deaths throughout human history. They are found in rye and other cereals and ingesting contaminated foods can cause serious health problems. To identify contaminated food exceeding the legal limits for ergot alkaloids, a portable and cost-effective test system is of great interest to the food industry. Rapid analysis can be achieved by screening for a marker compound, for which we chose ergometrine. We developed a magnetic bead-based immunoassay for ergometrine with amperometric detection in a flow injection system using a handheld potentiostat and a smartphone. With this assay a limit of detection of 3 nM (1 μg L-1) was achieved. In spiked rye flour, ergometrine levels from 25 to 250 μg kg-1 could be quantified. All results could be verified by optical detection. The developed assay offers great promise to meet the demand for on-site ergometrine detection in the food industry.
