Chromatographic method for the determination of aflatoxin M1 in cheese, yogurt, and dairy beverages

The aim of this work was to develop and validate a method to determine aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in cheese, yogurt, and dairy beverages. The method consisted of aqueous methanol extraction, immunoaffinity column purification and isolation, RPLC separation, and fluorescence detection. The four types of cheese samples were classified according to moisture and fat content. The mean recoveries were 71% for cheese at spiked levels from 100 to 517 ng/kg, and 76% for yogurt and dairy beverages spiked at levels from 66 to 260 ng/kg. The mean RSDs were 5.9% for cheese, and 10% for yogurt and dairy beverages. The LOD was 3 ng/kg and the LOQ was 10 ng/kg for all test commodities. To test the applicability of the developed method, a small survey of the presence of AFM1 in cheese, yogurt, and dairy beverages purchased in Ribeir?o Preto-SP, Brazil, was conducted. AFM1 was detected (> 3 ng/kg) in all samples. Twenty cheese samples (83%) were contaminated with AFM1 in the range of 13-304 ng/kg. In yogurt and dairy beverages, the contamination was lower (13-22 ng/kg) in five samples (42%). The results indicated that the method is adequate for the determination of AFM1 in these four types of cheese, as well as in yogurt and dairy beverages.     

Testing the suitability of different high-performance liquid chromatographic methods to determine aflatoxin M1 in a soft fresh Italian cheese

Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) is a toxic undesirable compound in milk. AFM1 affinity for caseins causes a concentration effect during milk process for dairy transformation. In spite of this, no official method of analysis, nor maximum tolerance level for aflatoxin M1 in cheese have been established. Thus, the aim of this work was to test the suitability of different HPLC methods for the AFM1 quantification in soft cheese samples at three different contamination levels (low, medium and high, at respectively nearly 30, 100 and 250 ng/kg). Nine participants were selected among Italian laboratories accredited by the Italian accreditation body (ACCREDIA) for HPLC toxin analysis. They were asked to analyze samples applying the method routinely used. The different applied methods were compared, and precision and accuracy parameters were evaluated. The main differences among HPLC procedures were registered at the level of extraction step. The use of an enzymatic digestion for the extraction of the toxin from cheese seemed to be particularly advantageous and the use of immunoaffinity columns seemed to be determinant for the improvement of sensitivity at low contamination levels. In general, the applied methods well discriminated the 3 levels of contamination, even though they performed better at the medium and high concentration levels (100 and 250 ng/kg) than at the low one (30 ng/kg). In fact relative standard deviation for reproducibility at low level was higher (60.1%) than the same value at medium and high levels (22.8% and 28.9%, respectively).     

Aflatoxin M1 determination in cheese by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A new method for determining aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in cheese by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry has been developed. Two methodologies were compared for sample extraction. The first one involves sample extraction with dichloromethane for hard, aged cheese or acetone for fresh cheese and includes a preliminary matrix solid-phase dispersion-extraction step before solid-phase extraction (SPE) clean-up by a Carbograph-4 cartridge. The second method uses a water/methanol solution (90:10, v/v) extraction at 150 degrees C before clean-up. The average recoveries of AFM1 from samples spiked at levels of 0.25-0.45 microg/kg, were 81-92% and the precision (RSD) ranged from 3 to 7% with the first method, whilst the average recoveries were 79-84%, and RSD ranged from 7 to 15% for the second method. Due to different matrix effect, the quantification limits were 0.019-0.025 microg/kg in the first case and 0.048-0.143 microg/kg in the second one, depending on cheese typology.     

Immunoaffinity column cleanup with liquid chromatography for determination of aflatoxin M1 in liquid milk: collaborative study

A collaborative study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of an immunoaffinity column cleanup liquid chromatographic method for determination of aflatoxin M1 in milk at proposed European regulatory limits. The test portion of liquid milk was centrifuged, filtered, and applied to an immunoaffinity column. The column was washed with water, and aflatoxin was eluted with pure acetonitrile. Aflatoxin M1 was separated by reversed-phase liquid chromatography (LC) with fluorescence detection. Frozen liquid milk samples both naturally contaminated with aflatoxin M1 and blank samples for spiking, were sent to 12 collaborators in 12 different European countries. Test portions of samples were spiked at 0.05 ng aflatoxin M1 per mL. After removal of 2 noncompliant sets of results, the mean recovery of aflatoxin M1 was 74%. Based on results for spiked samples (blind pairs at 1 level) and naturally contaminated samples (blind pairs at 3 levels) the relative standard deviation for repeatability (RSDr) ranged from 8 to 18%. The relative standard deviation for reproducibility (RSDR) ranged from 21 to 31%. The method showed acceptable within- and between-laboratory precision data for liquid milk, as evidenced by HORRAT values at the low level of aflatoxin M1 contamination.     

Measurement of aflatoxin M1 in milk by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

A sensitive method was developed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC)/MS/MS with positive electrospray ionization for determining aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in milk and milk powder. A 50 mL quantity of low-fat liquid milk containing 100 ng/L AFM1, was prepared using immunoaffinity columns with a mean recovery rate of 79% (n = 3). UHPLC columns (BEH C18, BEH HILIC, and HSS T3) greatly reduced the chromatographic time and lowered the instrumental detection limits (IDLs) 16 to 58 times compared to an HPLC column (Betabasic C18). The HSS T3 column was chosen because it provided a low IDL (0.11 pg) and the lowest ion suppression of signal intensity (63.4%) among the tested columns. Matrix-fortified calibration curves were used for quantification and showed good linearity (r > 0.997) at 0.05-500 ng/mL. The LOD was 0.18 ng/kg for milk and 2.08 nglkg for milk powder, based on the signal intensity of the confirmatory product ion (m/z 259.1), which was less abundant than the quantitative product ion (m/z 273.1). Certified reference materials of milk powder at three levels (<0.05, 0.111 +/- 0.018, and 0.44 +/- 0.06 microg/kg) were measured within a day and between days; the results were all close to the certified levels with low variations (RSDs < 15%), showing good precision and accuracy.     

Rapid extraction and sample clean-up for the fluorescence densitometric determination of aflatoxin M1 in milk and mil powder

The diluted sample is passed through a SepPak C18 cartridge and the toxin is eluted with acetonitrile/water (3:7, v/v). The extract is cleaned up on a SepPak silica cartridge. The antidiagonal spot application technique is used for two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography. Spots are quantified by fluorescence densitometry. Recoveries of aflatoxin M1 added in the range 0.03-0.1 ng g^?1 of milk are 86–97%. The detection limit is about 0.005 ng g^?1 for milk and 0.05 ng g^?1 for milk powder.     

Fully automated column-switching HPLC determination of aflatoxin M1 in milk using dialysis as sample preparation

A procedure has been developed for the automated determination of aflatoxin M1 in decreamed milk, by using on-line dialysis and subsequent trace enrichment on a reverse phase column. After foreflush to the analytical column the determination is performed with fluorescence detection. Fully automated analysis within 10 min is thus possible with reproducible dialysis recoveries above 50% (CV is 3.3%, n = 20) and detection levels of 50 ng/kg.     

Determination of aflatoxin M1 using a dialysis-based immunoaffinity sample pretreatment system coupled on-line to liquid chromatography. Reusable immunoaffinity columns.

A liquid chromatographic column-switching system containing a dialysis unit and an anti-aflatoxin immunoaffinity precolumn (immuno precolumn) is described for the automated determination of aflatoxin M1 in milk samples. Both a flat membrane dialysis unit working according to the flowing donor-flowing acceptor principle and a laboratory made hollow-fibre dialysis unit working according to the stagnant donor-flowing acceptor principle were evaluated. The hollow-fibre unit is superior with respect to repeatability (3% relative standard deviation) and detection limit (10 ng/l for aflatoxin M1 in milk), in spite of the fact that the overall recovery is only 6%. Interfering compounds, which would destroy the activity of the immuno precolumn, are efficiently removed from the system by the dialysis step; a single immuno precolumn can then be used for over 70 milk analyses. No decrease in the performance of either the immuno precolumn or the hollow-fibre dialysis unit is observed.     

Liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometric confirmatory method for determining aflatoxin M1 in cow milk: comparison between electrospray and atmospheric pressure photoionization sources

A liquid chromatography/electrospray (ESI)-tandem mass spectrometric method for the measurement of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in milk is described. Milk sample after protein precipitation with acetone was cleaned-up with a Carbograph-4 cartridge. Performances of the ESI source were compared with those of the atmospheric pressure photoionization source (APPI). Although a method quantification limit (MQL) of 6 ng/kg could be achieved operating with APPI source with respect to an MQL of 12 ng/kg with ESI, all the other performances being similar, then ESI was preferred as being more robust and widespread at present.     

Electrochemical Aptasensor Based on Poly(Neutral Red) and Carboxylated Pillar[5]arene for Sensitive Determination of Aflatoxin M1

Aptasensor for highly sensitive determination of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) was developed on the base of glassy carbon electrode (GCE) covered with polymeric Neutral red (NR) dye obtained by electropolymerization in the presence of polycarboxylated pillar[5]arene derivative. Aptamer against AFM1 and NR label were then covalently linked to the carboxylic groups of the carrier by carbodiimide binding. At presence of AFM1 the cathodic peak current related to the NR conversion decreases. AFM1 induced also an increase of the charge transfer resistance measured by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. In optimal conditions, this make it possible to determine from 5 to 120 ng/L AFM1 in standard solutions with limit of detection (LOD) of 0.5 ng/L. The aptasensor was validated on the spiked samples of cow and sheep milk as well as in kefir after their methanol dilution. Reliable detection of the 40–160 ng/kg of mycotoxins was reached. This is below limited threshold value (50 μg/kg) established in EC.     

Development and validation of an HPLC confirmatory method for the determination of seven tetracycline antibiotics residues in milk according to the European Union Decision 2002/657/EC

An HPLC method with diode-array detection, at 355 nm, was developed and validated for the determination of seven tetracyclines (TCs) in milk: minocycline (MNC), TC, oxytetracycline (OTC), methacycline (MTC), demeclocycline (DMC), chlortetracycline (CTC), and doxycycline (DC). Oxalate buffer (pH 4) was used with 20% TCA as a deproteinization agent for the extraction of analytes from milk followed by SPE. The separation was achieved on an Inertsil ODS-3, 5 microm, 250 x 4 mm(2 )analytical column at ambient temperature. The mobile phase, a mixture of A: 0.01 M oxalic acid and B: CH(3)CN, was delivered using a gradient program. The procedure was validated according to the European Union decision 2002/657/EC determining selectivity, stability, decision limit, detection capability, accuracy, and precision. Mean recoveries of TCs from spiked milk samples (50, 100, and 200 ng/g) were 93.8-100.9% for MNC, 96.8-103.7% for OTC, 96.3-101.8% for TC, 99.4-107.2% for DMC, 99.4-102.9% for CTC, 96.3-102.7% for MTC, and 94.6-102.1% for DC. All RSD values were lower than 8.5%. The decision limits CC(a) calculated by spiking 20 blank milk samples at MRL (100 microg/kg) ranged from 101.25 to 105.84 microg/kg, while detection capability CC(b )from 103.94 to 108.88 microg/kg.     

乳粉中黄曲霉毒素M1残留标准物质研制

通过饲喂牛的方式获得乳粉中黄曲霉毒素M1阳性乳品,经冷冻干燥、混匀、包装、分装、辐照灭菌制备了乳粉中黄曲霉毒素M1标准物质。6家实验室均采用液相色谱-同位素稀释质谱法对乳粉中黄曲霉毒素M1标准物质进行联合定值。分别采用F检验和t检验对标准物质进行均匀性、稳定性检验,结果表明该标准物质均匀性与稳定性良好,均符合标准物质定值技术要求。对定值结果进行不确定度评定,乳粉中黄曲霉毒素M1残留标准物质定值结果为(2.45±0.41)μg/kg,k=2。该标准物质可用于乳品中黄曲霉毒素M1的日常质量控制及定量检测。     

Determination of Aflatoxin M1 in Milk by a Magnetic Nanoparticle-Based Fluorescent Immunoassay

A sensitive and rapid magnetic nanoparticle-based fluorescent immunoassay for the determination of aflatoxin M1 in raw milk was developed. Aflatoxin M1 was converted to aflatoxin M1-o-carboxymethyl oxime. The aflatoxin M1-oxime was used for the preparation of aflatoxin M1-oxime-fluoresceinamine conjugate through the carbodiimide reaction. The aflatoxin M1-oxime-fluoresceinamine conjugate was characterized by ultraviolet–visible and infrared spectroscopy. Magnetic nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄) were synthesized and modified by 3-(aminopropyl)triethoxysilane. The size of initial (139?nm) and functionalized magnetic nanoparticles (147?nm) was determined by particle analysis. The optimal mass of immobilized antibody (25?µg) and optimal concentration of aflatoxin M1-oxime-fluoresceinamine conjugate (15?µg?mL^?1) for magnetic nanoparticle-based fluorescent immunoassay were determined. The developed immunoassay provided a linear aflatoxin M1 concentration range from 3.0 to 100?pg?mL^?1 in bovine milk. The detection limit was 2.9?pg?mL^?1. The results of aflatoxin M1 magnetic nanoparticle-based fluorescent immunoassay in heat-treated milk and phosphate-buffered saline at pH 6.6 were compared. The influence of the somatic cell count, pH, and fat concentration in bovine milk on the aflatoxin M1 immunoassay was investigated. The influence of the milk species on the immunoassay was also characterized. The high fat concentration ovine milk depressed the sensitivity of the aflatoxin M1 immunoassay.     

Rapid and simple determination of aflatoxin M1 in milk in the low parts per 10(12) range

A method for extracting aflatoxin M1 from milk is proposed in which the use of disposable Extrelut clean-up columns simplifies the analysis considerably in comparison with existing methods. The quantitative determination is based on one-dimensional thin-layer chromatography and fluorescence densitometric measurement. The detection limit is 5 ppt (parts per 10(12)) in milk and the recovery is 78 +/- 4% at a level of 50 ppt.     

Validation of a high-performance liquid chromatography method for the determination of oxytetracycline,tetracycline, chlortetracycline and doxycycline in bovine milk and muscle

High-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection (HPLC-DAD) was optimised and validated for the determination of tetracyclines in bovine milk and tissues. Milk and tissue samples were extracted and purified using a solid-phase extraction HLB Oasis cartridge and analysed using HPLC-DAD set at 365 nm. The analyses were carried out using the mobile phase of 0.01 M oxalic acid-acetonitrile-methanol (60:25:15, v/v/v) on a C8 column (250 x 4.6 mm I.D., 5 microm). Recoveries of tetracyclines from spiked samples at the three concentrations (0.5, 1 and 1.5) of the maximum residues limits (corresponding to 100 microg/kg for milk and the muscle) were higher than 81.1% in milk and 83.2% in muscle. The method was successfully validated for bovine milk and muscle in compliance with requirements set by draft SANCO/ 1805/ 2000 European Decision. The decision limit (CCalpha) was in the range 113.2-127.2 microg/kg and 107.7-129.9 micro/kg for all compounds in milk and muscle, respectively. The detection capability (CCbeta) was in the range 117.2-131.3 microg/kg and 114.9-133.1 microg/kg for all compounds in milk and muscle, respectively.     

Electrochemical Aptasensor with Layer‐by‐layer Deposited Polyaniline for Aflatoxin M1 Voltammetric Determination

Mycotoxins are highly toxic metabolites of some fungi that frequently contaminate water, food and feed and hence cause several human and animal diseases. In this work, a new approach to the fast and reliable determination of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in water and milk has been proposed with reagent free protocol of signal measurement. For this purpose, DNA aptamer selective to AFM1 was entrapped between two thin layers of polyaniline (PANI) electrodeposited on glassy carbon electrode. The incubation of the aptasensor in the AFM1 solution results in remarkable decrease of the PANI intrinsic activity monitored by direct current voltammetry or electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Appropriate calibration curves were linear in the range from 3 to 90 ng/L with limit of detection (LOD) 1–5 ng/L depending on the measurement mode. Mechanism of signal generation involves shielding electrostatic interactions between the PANI and aptamer in the surface layer and variation of its redox activity attributed to the emeraldine form of PANI. Selectivity of the response was proved by similar experiments with aflatoxin B1 and ochratoxin A and by comparison of the results with those obtained with non‐specific aptamer in the sensing layer. Simple protocol for milk pretreatment has been proposed for reliable detection of AFM1 on the level of its threshold limited values (20 ng/L).     

Molecular Recognition of Aflatoxin M1 in Water and Milk Samples

Two stochastic microsensors based on diamond paste modified with 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) were proposed for the molecular recognition of aflatoxin M1 in water and milk samples. Two types of diamond were used: a monocrystalline diamond powder (1 μm) (DP) and a nanopowder of monocrystalline diamond (10 nm) (nDP) for the design of the stochastic microsensors. The microsensors were incorporated as combined stochastic microsensors (a microcell containing the stochastic microsensor and the Pt wire, and a Ag/AgCl sensor) in a platform used for monitoring of waste waters and milk samples. The platforms were used for the fast screening of water and milk samples for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of aflatoxin M1 at very low concentration levels (up to 0.001 fg/L). The linear concentration ranges were wide, being able to cover concentrations between 0.001 fg/L to 20 μg/L. The highest sensitive microsensor (sensitivity of 4.74×10¹⁰ s mg^?1 L) was the one based on nDP. The results provided by the platforms were in agreement with those obtained by utilization of standard method (ISO certified methods (HPLC/fluorescence method)), recoveries being higher than 99.00 % and RSD lower than 1.00 % proving that the method can be reliable used for molecular recognition of aflatoxin M1 in water and milk samples.     

First proficiency testing to evaluate the ability of European Union National Reference Laboratories to detect staphylococcal enterotoxins in milk products

The European Commission has designed a network of European Union-National Reference Laboratories (EU-NRLs), coordinated by a Community Reference Laboratory (CRL), for control of hygiene of milk and milk products (Council Directive 92/46/ECC). As a common contaminant of milk and milk products such as cheese, staphylococcal enterotoxins are often involved in human outbreaks and should be monitored regularly. The main tasks of the EU-CRLs were to select and transfer to the EU-NRLs a reference method for detection of enterotoxins, and to set up proficiency testing to evaluate the competency of the European laboratory network. The first interlaboratory exercise was performed on samples of freeze-dried cheese inoculated with 2 levels of staphylococcal enterotoxins (0.1 and 0.25 ng/g) and on an uninoculated control. These levels were chosen considering the EU regulation for staphylococcal enterotoxins in milk and milk products and the limit of detection of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test recommended in the reference method. The trial was conducted according to the recommendations of ISO Guide 43. Results produced by laboratories were compiled and compared through statistical analysis. Except for data from 2 laboratories for the uninoculated control and cheese inoculated at 0.1 ng/g, all laboratories produced satisfactory results, showing the ability of the EU-NRL network to monitor the enterotoxin contaminant.     

The use of liquid membranes in the multi-residue extraction of stilbenes in a variety of biological matrices and their detection with LC-ES-MS

Supported liquid membrane (SLM) has been used as a sample preparation method in the simultaneous extraction of a mixture of three stilbene compounds in cow's milk, urine, bovine kidney and liver tissues matrices. The stilbene compounds analysed included, dienestrol, diethylstilbestrol and hexestrol. The liquid membrane used for trapping these compounds consisted of 5% tri-n-octylphosphine oxide (TOPO) dissolved in di-n-hexylether/n-undecane (1:1). The extraction efficiencies obtained after enrichment of 1 ng/L stilbenes in variety of biological matrices of milk, urine, liver, kidney and water, ranged from 60 - 70%, 71 - 86%, 69 - 80%, 63 - 7A% and 72 - 93% respectively. The detection limits obtained from urine extraction were 2.1 ng/L, 1.3 ng/L and 3.0 ng/L; from liver and kidney tissues were 2.9 ng/L, 1.6 ng/L and 3.8 ng/L and from milk was 3.2 ng/L, 2.5 ng/L and 4.3 ng/L for hexestrol, dienestrol and diethylstilbestrol respectively.     

Development of a liquid chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometric method for the simultaneous determination of trichothecenes, zearalenone and aflatoxins in foodstuffs

A liquid chromatography/atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (LC/APCI-MS) method based on time-of-flight MS (TOFMS) with a real-time reference mass correction technique was developed for the simultaneous determination of Fusarium mycotoxins (nivalenol, deoxynivalenol, fusarenon X, 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol, 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol, HT-2 toxin, T-2 toxin, diacetoxyscirpenol, zearalenone) and Aspergillus mycotoxins (aflatoxin B1, aflatoxin B2, aflatoxin G1, aflatoxin G2) in corn, wheat, cornflakes and biscuits. Samples were cleaned up with a MultiSep #226 column. Detection of the mycotoxins was carried out in exact mass chromatograms with a mass window of 0.03 Th. Calibration curves were linear from 2 to 200 ng x mL(-1) for trichothecenes and zearalenone, and 0.2 to 20 ng x mL(-1) for aflatoxins, by 20 microL injection. The limits of detection ranged from 0.1 to 6.1 ng x g(-1) in foodstuffs analyzed in this study. The LC/TOFMS method was found to be suitable for the screening of multiple mycotoxins in foodstuffs rapidly and with high sensitivity, and its performance was demonstrated for the confirmation for target mycotoxins.