Electrochemical magnetoimmunosensing platform for determination of the milk allergen ß-lactoglobulin.

A very sensitive magnetoimmunosensor for the determination of ß-lactoglobulin (ß-LG) is reported in this work. A sandwich configuration involving covalent immobilization of the capture antibody (antiß-LG) onto activated carboxylic-modified magnetic beads (HOOC-MBs) and incubation of the modified MBs with a horseradish peroxidase labeled antibody (HRP-antiß-LG), is used. The resulting modified MBs are captured by a magnet placed under the surface of a disposable carbon screen-printed electrode (SPCE) and the amperometric responses are measured at -0.20 V (vs. Ag pseudo-reference electrode), upon addition of hydroquinone (HQ) as electron transfer mediator and H2O2 as the enzyme substrate. The ß-LG magnetoimmunosensor exhibited a wide range of linearity (2.8-100 ng mL(-1)) and a low detection limit of 0.8 ng mL(-1) (20 pg in 25 µL sample). The magnetoimmunosensing platform was successfully applied for the detection of ß-LG in different types of milk without any matrix effect after just a sample dilution. The results correlated properly with those provided by a commercial ELISA method offering a truthful analytical screening tool. These features make the developed methodology a promising alternative in the development of user-friendly devices for on-site determination of ß-LG in dairy products.

Rapid screening of multiple antibiotic residues in milk using disposable amperometric magnetosensors.

Disposable amperometric magnetosensors, involving a mixture of modified-magnetic beads (MBs), for the multiplex screening of cephalosporins (CPHs), sulfonamides (SAs) and tetracyclines (TCs) antibiotic residues in milk are reported for the first time in this work. The multiplexed detection relies on the use of a mixture of target specific modified magnetic beads (MBs) and application of direct competitive assays using horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-labeled tracers. The amperometric responses measured at -0.20 V vs. the Ag pseudo-reference electrode of screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCE) upon the addition of H2O2 in the presence of hydroquinone (HQ) as redox mediator, were used to monitor the extent of the different affinity reactions. The developed methodology, involving a simple and short pretreatment, allowed discrimination between no contaminated UHT and raw milk samples and samples containing antibiotic residues at the maximum residue limits (MRLs). The usefulness of the multiplexed magnetosensor was demonstrated by analyzing spiked milk samples in only 5 min. The results demonstrated that a clear discrimination of milk samples contaminated with antibiotics at their MRL level or their mixtures, allowing the identification of milk not complying with current legislation. These features make the developed methodology a promising alternative in the development of user-friendly devices for on-site analysis to ensure quality control for dairy products.

An amperometric affinity penicillin-binding protein magnetosensor for the detection of ß-lactam antibiotics in milk.

The preparation, characterization and performance evaluation of an amperometric affinity disposable magnetosensor, based on the use of a recombinant penicillin-binding protein (PBP) and screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs), for the specific detection and quantification of ß-lactam antibiotic residues in milk are reported. The PBP was immobilized onto His-Tag-Isolation-modified magnetic beads (His-Tag-Isolation-MBs), and a direct competitive assay using a tracer with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) for the enzymatic labeling was performed. The amperometric response obtained at -0.20 V vs. the Ag pseudo-reference electrode of the SPCE after the addition of H2O2 in the presence of hydroquinone (HQ) was used as the transduction signal. The developed methodology showed very low detection limits (in the low ppb level) for the 6 antibiotics tested in untreated milk samples, and a good selectivity against other antibiotic residues frequently detected in milk and dairy products. Due to the bioreceptor employed, this methodology was able to detect only the active form of ß-lactam antibiotics with high affinities for both penicillins and cephalosporins. Moreover, the analysis took only 30 min.

An integrated amperometric biosensor for the determination of lactose in milk and dairy products.

An integrated amperometric biosensor for the determination of lactose is reported. The bioelectrode design is based on the use of a 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) self-assembled monolayer (SAM)-modified gold electrode on which the enzymes beta-galactosidase (beta-Gal), glucose oxidase (GOD), peroxidase (HRP) and the mediator tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) are coimmobilized by a dialysis membrane. beta-Gal catalyzes the hydrolysis of lactose, and the produced glucose is catalytically oxidized to gluconic acid and H(2)O(2), which is reduced in the presence of HRP. This enzyme reaction is mediated by TTF, and the reduction of TTF(+) at 0.00 V (vs Ag/AgCl) gives rise to an amperometric signal proportional to the lactose concentration. The biosensor exhibits a good repeatability of the measurement carried out with the same biosensor, a good reproducibility of the responses obtained with different biosensors and a useful lifetime of 28 days. A linear calibration plot was obtained for lactose over the 1.5 x 10(-6) to 1.2 x 10(-4) M concentration range, with a limit of detection of 4.6 x 10(-7) M. The effect of potential interferents (sucrose, lactulose, fructose, arabinose, maltose, galactose, glucose and uric and ascorbic acids) on the biosensor response was evaluated. Furthermore, the bioelectrode exhibits a suitable performance in flow-injection systems in connection with amperometric detection. The developed biosensor was applied to the determination of lactose in milk and other foodstuffs (chocolate, butter, margarine, yogurt, cheese and mayonnaise), and the results obtained were validated by comparison with those provided by using a commercial enzyme test kit.

Integrated multienzyme electrochemical biosensors for monitoring malolactic fermentation in wines.

Integrated amperometric biosensors for the determination of L-malic and L-lactic acids were developed by coimmobilization of the enzymes L-malate dehydrogenase (MDH) and diaphorase (DP), or L-lactate oxidase (LOX) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP), respectively, together with the redox mediator tetrathiafulvalene (TTF), on a 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) self-assembled monolayer (SAM)-modified gold electrode by using a dialysis membrane. The electrochemical oxidation of TTF at +100mV (vs. Ag/AgCl), and the reduction of TTF(+) at -50mV were used for the monitoring of the enzyme reactions involved in L-malic and L-lactic acid determinations, respectively. Experimental variables concerning the biosensors composition and the detection conditions were optimized for each biosensor. Good relative standard deviation values were obtained in both cases for the measurements carried out with the same biosensor, with no need of cleaning or pretreatment of the bioelectrodes surface, and with different biosensors constructed in the same manner. After 7 days of continuous use, the MDH/DP biosensor still exhibited 90% of the original sensitivity, while the LOX/HRP biosensor yielded a 91% of the original response after 5 days. Calibration graphs for L-malic and L-lactic were obtained with linear ranges of 5.2x10(-7) to 2.0x10(-5) and 4.2x10(-7) to 2.0x10(-5)M, respectively. The calculated detection limits were 5.2x10(-7) and 4.2x10(-7)M, respectively. The biosensors exhibited a high selectivity with no significant interferences. They were applied to monitor malolactic fermentation (MLF) induced by inoculation of Lactobacillus plantarum CECT 748(T) into a synthetic wine. Samples collected during MLF were assayed for L-malic and L-lactic acids, and the results obtained with the biosensors exhibited a very good correlation when plotted against those obtained by using commercial enzymatic kits.