Development of an immuno-electrochemical glass carbon electrode sensor based on graphene oxide/gold nanocomposite and antibody for the detection of patulin.

The presence of fungal-produced patulin in foods poses a high health risk to people because it can cause neurologic and gastrointestinal illnesses. A glass carbon electrode (GCE) sensor was developed for the rapid and sensitive detection of patulin. Anti-patulin-BSA IgG of a rabbit was produced and immobilised on a GCE coated with a graphene oxide/gold nanocomposite. The mycotoxin patulin in the samples could be captured by the anti-patulin-BSA IgG on the surface of the GCE sensor. The spatial hindrance effect of IgG on the GCE sensor was reduced by the reaction between IgG and patulin, resulting in a decrease in the electron transfer resistance. The current changes in the immobilised anti-patulin-BSA IgG GCE sensor exhibited a linear relationship with patulin concentration and facilitated the sensitive detection of patulin. This immuno-electrochemical GCE sensor could rapidly detect patulin in less than 1 min with a detection limit of 5 µg/L.

A new competitive fluorescence assay for the detection of patulin toxin.

Patulin is a toxic secondary metabolite of a number of fungal species belonging to the genera Penicillum and Aspergillus. It has been mainly isolated from apples and apple products contaminated with the common storage-rot fungus of apples, Penicillum expansum, but it has also been extracted from rotten fruits, moldy feeds, and stored cheese. Human exposure to patulin can lead to serious health problems, and according to a long-term investigation in rats, the World Health Organization has set a tolerable weekly intake of 7 ppb body weight. The content of patulin in foods has been restricted to 50 ppb in many countries. Conventional analytical detection methods involve chromatographic analyses, such as HPLC, GC, and, more recently, techniques such as LC/MS and GC/MS. However, extensive protocols of sample cleanup are required prior to the analysis, and to accomplish it, expensive analytical instrumentation is necessary. An immunochemical analytical method, based on highly specific antigen-antibody interactions, would be desirable, offering several advantages compared to conventional techniques, i.e., low cost per sample, high selectivity, high sensitivity, and high throughput. In this paper, the synthesis of two new derivatives of patulin is described, along with their conjugation to the bovine serum albumin for the production of polyclonal antibodies. Finally, a fluorescence competitive immunoassay was developed for the on-line detection of patulin.

Studies on the affinity chromatography purification of anti-patulin polyclonal antibodies by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and electrophoresis.

Patulin is a mycotoxin produced by fungal species that frequently grow on fruit and vegetables. It presents risks, particularly for children consuming compotes and fruit juices. Thus, it is important to have methods such as immunoassays to screen a large number of samples. In the relevant literature, previous studies on the production of antibodies against patulin derivatives described qualitative tests for a patulin derivative or showed slight responses. The present study reinvestigated the production of polyclonal antibodies against patulin and their purification since crude antiserum could react non-specifically in immunoassays. Patulin-hemiglutarate was synthesized and conjugated to bovine serum albumin as the immunogen for the immunization of five New Zealand white rabbits. The immunoglobulin G (IgG) fraction was isolated twice by affinity chromatography using Sepharose-LS gel and recombinant G-protein. Classic affinity chromatography using Sepharose-LS gel was unable to eliminate serum albumin from the IgG fraction and the use of recombinant G-protein was efficient to isolate the purified IgG. Titres and specificity were determined by indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Patulin-hemiglutarate-ovalbumin gave complete displacement, while patulin displaced 30% of bound antibodies. Thus, a fraction of the antibodies are specific for free patulin. The non-specific binding increased with patulin concentrations. The electrophilic properties of patulin might also induce intermolecular cross-links in vitro that hinder the possibility of responses displacement when free patulin is used.

The production of polyclonal antibodies against the mycotoxin derivative patulin hemiglutarate.

The mycotoxin patulin is a toxic, carcinogenic, unsaturated lactone produced by a number of molds. Polyclonal antibodies against patulin hemiglutarate were produced. Specific antibodies against patulin alone, however, were not clearly demonstrated. Because of its low molecular weight, patulin required conjugation to bovine serum albumin (BSA) to increase its immunogenicity. Anti-patulin-hemiglutarate-BSA antibody titer and specificity were determined using indirect and indirect competitive ELISA, respectively. Immunoassays would facilitate detection and quantitation of patulin.