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Published on: September 19, 2017
Electrochemical Biosensor on a Microfluidic Coculture Chip for Ovalbumin Detection
Donglei Jiang1, Luwen Ye1, Zeng Feng1
1College of Food Science and Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Grain Circulation and Safety, Key Laboratory of Grains and Oils Quality Control and Processing, Nanjing University of Finance and Economics, Nanjing210023, Jiangsu, P.R. China.
A new microfluidic sensor detects ovalbumin (OVA) by measuring interleukin-6 (IL-6) release from cocultured cells. This sensitive platform offers a biomimetic approach for food allergen analysis.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Analytical Chemistry
- Food Science
Background:
- Food allergies pose significant health risks, necessitating sensitive detection methods for allergens like ovalbumin (OVA).
- Existing methods for allergen detection often lack the sensitivity and biomimetic relevance required for comprehensive analysis.
- Microfluidic platforms offer miniaturized, controlled environments for cell-based assays.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel microfluidic coculture electrochemical sensing platform for sensitive ovalbumin detection.
- To establish a biomimetic system that mimics in vivo cellular responses to food allergens.
- To enable indirect quantification of OVA by monitoring cellular responses.
Main Methods:
- Development of a microfluidic chip with dual-layer serpentine microchannels and a porous membrane for cell coculture (Caco-2 and RBL-2H3 cells).
- Modification of a screen-printed electrode using diazonium grafting and gold nanoparticle (AuNP) electrodeposition for antibody immobilization.
- Indirect detection of OVA by measuring electrochemical signals corresponding to interleukin-6 (IL-6) release.
Main Results:
- The platform demonstrated sensitive detection of OVA within a linear range of 0.2 to 4 pg/mL.
- Achieved a low limit of detection (LOD) of 0.161 pg/mL for OVA.
- Optimal electrochemical response was observed 4 hours post-OVA stimulation, enabling dynamic monitoring.
Conclusions:
- The developed microfluidic coculture electrochemical sensing platform provides a sensitive and biomimetic strategy for food allergen analysis.
- This approach allows for response-oriented detection, reflecting the biological impact of allergens.
- The platform holds potential for advancing food safety and allergy diagnostics.
