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Molecular Simulation-Guided Development of a Ractopamine Aptasensor Based on Magnetic Microspheres
Chenna Zhang1,2,3, Zhiqi Liu1,2,3, Hongyu Zhang1,2,3
1College of Environmental & Chemical Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, China.
Chemistry & Biodiversity
|September 2, 2025
Summary
This study developed a novel colloidal gold test strip sensor to detect ractopamine, a drug used in livestock. The sensor utilizes aptamers and magnetic microspheres, offering a new method for ensuring food safety and preventing drug misuse in animal agriculture.
Area of Science:
- Biosensor Development
- Food Safety
- Analytical Chemistry
- Biotechnology
Background:
- β-Adrenergic agonists, like ractopamine, are used to promote livestock growth but pose food safety risks due to improper use by farmers.
- Illicit drug residues in food products threaten consumer health, necessitating advanced detection methods.
- Current detection methods may be insufficient, highlighting the need for innovative and sensitive analytical tools.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a rapid, sensitive, and specific colloidal gold test strip sensor for detecting ractopamine residues.
- To create a biosensor platform combining nucleic acid aptamers, magnetic microspheres, and isothermal amplification.
- To address the challenges of drug misuse and ensure food safety in the livestock industry.
Main Methods:
- Preparation of carboxyl-functionalized magnetic microspheres via precipitation polymerization using isophorone diisocyanate.
- Refinement of ractopamine aptamers using computational simulations and molecular docking for enhanced binding affinity and specificity.
- Development of an innovative isothermal amplification system with optimized parameters (temperature, time, template concentration).
Main Results:
- Successfully synthesized uniform, superparamagnetic carboxyl-functionalized polyurea microspheres with good dispersibility and adsorption capacity.
- Identified an optimized ractopamine aptamer with superior binding characteristics compared to the original sequence.
- The developed aptamer sensor achieved a detection limit of 62.5 µM for ractopamine, demonstrating effective detection performance.
Conclusions:
- The novel colloidal gold test strip sensor, integrating aptamers and magnetic microspheres, offers a promising tool for ractopamine detection.
- This study presents a unique approach using layer-by-layer assembled carboxyl microspheres with a polyurea core for biosensor applications.
- The developed sensor provides a valuable reference for future research in biosensor technology combining magnetic microspheres and aptamers for food safety.
