Sensitive and selective magnetoimmunosensing platform for determination of the food allergen Ara h 1

A highly sensitive disposable amperometric immunosensor based on the use of magnetic beads (MBs) is described for determination of Ara h 1, the major peanut allergen, in only 2 h. The approach uses a sandwich configuration involving selective capture and biotinylated detector antibodies and carboxylic acid-modified MBs (HOOC-MBs). The MBs bearing the immunoconjugates are captured by a magnet placed under the surface of a disposable screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) and the affinity reactions are monitored amperometrically at −0.20 V (vs a Ag pseudo-reference electrode) in the presence of hydroquinone (HQ) as electron transfer mediator and upon addition of H₂O₂ as the enzyme substrate. The developed immunosensor exhibits a wide range of linearity between 20.8 and 1000.0 ng mL⁻¹ Ara h 1, a detection limit of 6.3 ng mL⁻¹, a great selectivity, a good reproducibility with a RSD of 6.3% for six different immunosensors and a useful lifetime of 25 days. The usefulness of the immunosensor was demonstrated by determining Ara h 1 in different matrices (food extracts and saliva). The results correlated properly with those provided by a commercial ELISA method offering a reliable and promising analytical screening tool in the development of user-friendly devices for on-site determination of Ara h 1.     

State of the art: Lateral flow assay (LFA) biosensor for on-site rapid detection

We summarized the principle of LFAs, three main elements for the LFAs (recognition molecule, signal transduction element, the targets) and different optimal experimental conditions in the recent LFA-related studies to give detailed overview of the LFA development.     

花生致敏糖蛋白Ara h1糖链决定簇的质谱分析

以花生种子总蛋白及其主要致敏糖蛋白Ara h1为研究对象,采用"一釜法"对蛋白上的糖链进行释放并同时进行衍生化标记,通过C18固相萃取柱纯化,以电喷雾质谱(ESI-MS)、多级串联质谱(MSn)和亲水性液相色谱-质谱联用(HILIC-MS)进行结构解析和定量分析.结果表明,蛋白Ara h1共有10条N-糖链,其中7条为高甘露糖型,2条为木糖修饰,另外1条为与过敏原相关的核心α1,3-Fuc修饰N-糖链,其含量约占总糖链的12.45%.     

A new quality control method for lateral flow assay

We proposed a lateral flow assay (LFA) based on internal quality control microspheres to realize the accurate diagnosis of HbA1c in human body. This method can improve the precision and accuracy of HbA1c detection.     

Fluorescence‐based lateral flow assays for rapid oral fluid roadside detection of cannabis use

With the recent worldwide changes in the legalization of marijuana, there is a significant need for rapid, roadside screening test for driving under the influence of drugs. A robust, sensitive, lateral flow assay has been developed to detect recent use via oral‐fluid testing for Δ⁹‐tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). This proof‐of‐concept assay uses a fluorescent‐based immunoassay detection of polymeric beads, conjugated to antibodies against native THC. The fluorescent technique allows for significantly lower limits of detection and higher precision determination of recent marijuana use without the use of urine or blood sampling—thus allowing for roadside identification. Detection levels of 0.01 ng/mL were distinguished from background and the lower limit of quantification was determined to approach 1 ng/mL.     

Development of a competitive lateral flow immunoassay for progesterone: influence of coating conjugates and buffer components

Several aspects of the development of competitive lateral flow immunoassays (LFIAs) are described. The quantitation of progesterone is taken as an example. The LFIA format consisted of a nitrocellulose membrane spotted with various progesterone conjugates as the test line. A mixture of primary antibody and secondary antibody adsorbed to colloidal carbon was used for signal generation. A digital scanner and dedicated software were used to quantitate the response. A reappraisal of the checkerboard titration, often used in the optimisation of immunoassays, is discussed. Surprisingly, the highest sensitivity of the LFIA format (IC₅₀ of 0.6 μg L⁻¹ progesterone in buffer) was achieved by using a high coating concentration of the analyte–protein conjugate and a high dilution of the antibody solution. Immediate addition of all reagents in LFIA was superior to premixing the components and allowing prereaction. Of several blocking agents tested bovine serum albumin was superior in performance, whereas the combination of ovalbumin and progesterone substantially influenced test results.     

Development of a chemiluminescence-based quantitative lateral flow immunoassay for on-field detection of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene

Simple, rapid and highly sensitive assays, possibly allowing on-site analysis, are required in the security and forensic fields or to obtain early signs of environmental pollution. Several bioanalytical methods and biosensors based on portable devices have been developed for this purpose. Among them, Lateral Flow ImmunoAssays (LFIAs) offer the advantages of rapidity and ease of use and, thanks to the high specificity of antigen–antibody binding, allow greatly simplifying and reducing sample pre-analytical treatments. However, LFIAs usually employ colloidal gold or latex beads as labels and they rely on the formation of colored bands visible by the naked eye. With this assay format, only qualitative or semi-quantitative information can be obtained and low sensitivity is achieved. Recently, the use of enzyme-catalyzed chemiluminescence detection in LFIA has been proposed to overcome these problems. In this work, we describe the development of a quantitative CL-LFIA assay for the detection of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) in real samples. Thanks to the use of a portable imaging device for CL signal measurement based on a thermoelectrically cooled CCD camera, the analysis could be performed directly on-field. A limit of detection of 0.2 μg mL⁻¹ TNT was obtained, which is five times lower than that obtained with a previously described colloidal gold-based LFIA developed employing the same immunoreagents. The dynamic range of the assay extended up to 5 μg mL⁻¹ TNT and recoveries ranging from 97% to 111% were obtained in the analysis of real samples (post blast residues obtained from controlled explosion).     

Development of a combined technique using a rapid one-step immunochromatographic assay and indirect competitive ELISA for the rapid detection of baicalin

A colloidal gold conjugated anti-baicalin monoclonal antibody (anti-BA MAb) was prepared and used in an immunochromatographic assay (ICA) for BA in Scutellariae Radix and Kampo medicines. This competitive ICA uses an anti-BA MAb which shows a high specificity for BA and baicalein. Its advantages include a short assay time (15 min), no dependence on any instrumental systems, and it can detect BA in plant materials and Kampo medicines. The limit of detection for the ICA was found to be around 0.6 μg mL⁻¹of baicalin. Moreover, the usefulness of the combination of indirect competitive ELISA and the ICA using anti-BA MAb as a quality control method was confirmed for analysis of BA in Scutellariae Radix and Kampo medicines with a sufficient sensitivity (200 ng mL⁻¹ to 2 μg mL⁻¹), obtainable in an easy and timely manner.     

Development of an immunochromatographic assay for rapid detection of 1-Aminohydantoin in urine specimens

A rapid immunochromatographic assay was developed and validated for detection of 1-aminohydantoin (AHD) in urine specimens. Colloidal gold-labeled polyclonal antibody specific to AHD derivative was used as the marker; based on the competitive reactivity theory, the metabolite of nitrofurantoin after derivatization with benzaldehyde would compete with carboxyphenyl AHD derivative-conjugated ovalbumin. The test strip could efficaciously detect the novel analyte with a visual detection limit of 10 ng mL(-1) and high specificity. The reliability of the assay was determined by testing 80 standard samples comparing with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The semi-quantitative detection was accomplished in less than 15 min with low cost, especially for requirements of rapid and simple screening. This is the first publication of an immunochromatographic assay for detection of nitrofuran residues.     

Development and evaluation of a rapid lateral flow immunochromatographic strip assay for screening 19-nortestosterone

The lateral flow strip test for 19-nortestosterone is one kind of immunochromatographic assay. Nitrocellulose membrane was separately immobilized with goat anti-rabbit IgG (control line) and 19-NT-OVA conjugate (test line). Anti-19-NT polyclonal antibody labeled with colloidal gold particles acted as the detector reagent. The assay is qualitatively, not quantitatively, judged with positive or negative result. We tested the sensitivity of the strip using spiked swine urine, and each specimen was independently measured by LC/MS/MS. The sensitivity, measure by eye, was determined to be 200 ng/mL. The assay time was less than 15 min, and so suitable for on-site rapid test.     

Development of a liposome-based immunochromatographic strip assay for the detection of Salmonella

Salmonella species are ubiquitous human pathogens which pose a dangerous threat to the elderly and children worldwide. In this study, to develop a more efficient assay procedure for the rapid detection of Salmonella Typhimurium, an immunochromatographic strip assay was developed using immunoliposome (anti-Salmonella IgG-tagged) encapsulated with sulforhodamine B (SRB). The detection sensitivity of the developed immunochromatographic assay was compared with a commercial immunochromatographic test strip using colloidal gold nanoparticles. The liposomes were prepared through a reverse-phase evaporation method by using a lipid and phospholipid mixture and SRB, a fluorescence dye, which was encapsulated in the phospholipid bilayer. Furthermore, the outer surface of the SRB-encapsulated liposome was conjugated with antibody (affinity-purified polyclonal goat anti-Salmonella IgG) to form an immunoliposome (size, 223 nm), used as the analytical reagent in the developed immunoassay. For this strip assay, a plastic-backed nitrocellulose strip was immobilized with two antibody zones. The lower zone of the strip referred to Salmonella antigen capture zone (test line), while the other zone served as a positive control (control line). The lower zone was coated with affinity-purified polyclonal goat anti-Salmonella IgG, while the upper zone was coated with rabbit anti-goat IgG. During capillary migration of the wicking solution (diluted liposome and Salmonella culture, each 50 μl), Salmonella was captured with surface-bound immunoliposomes at the antigen capture zone, while the unbound liposomes migrated upward and bound to another zone. The color density of the antigen capture zone was directly proportional to the amount of S. Typhimurium in the test sample. As a result, the detection limit of the immunochromatographic strip assay developed in this study against S. Typhimurium was found to be 10² CFU/ml, which was significantly higher than the detection limit (10⁷ CFU/ml) of the commercial immunochromatographic test strip assay.     

Selective and rapid immunomagnetic bead-based sample treatment for the liquid chromatography-electrospray ion-trap mass spectrometry detection of Ara h3/4 peanut protein in foods

Complex matrices commonly affect the sensitivity and selectivity of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis. Thus, selective sample enrichment strategies are useful particularly to analyze organic biomarkers present in low abundance in samples. A selective immunomagnetic extraction procedure to isolate trace peanut allergen protein Ara h3/4 from breakfast cereals combined with microwave-assisted tryptic digestion and liquid chromatography-electrospray ion-trap tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-IT-MS/MS) measurement was developed. Using protein A-coated magnetic bead (MB) support, anti-Ara h3/4 monoclonal antibodies (Abs) were used as selective capture molecules. The results obtained by LC-ESI-IT-MS/MS in terms of limit of detection (3mg peanuts/kg matrix) and a significantly reduced matrix effect demonstrated that the Ab-coated magnetic bead was very effective to selectively trap Ara h3/4 protein in breakfast cereals. The magnetic bead-based sample treatment followed by LC-IT-MS/MS method here developed can be proposed as very rapid and powerful confirmatory analytical method to verify the reliability of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) screening methods, since the magnetic bead-LC-IT-MS/MS method combines good sensitivity to the identification capabilities of mass spectrometry.     

Automated flow immunoassay for detection of food allergen using anion-exchange resin and alkaline phosphatase conjugated immunoglobulin G

A novel automated flow immunoassay system is developed for the detection of wheat protein as a food allergen. A polyclonal immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody was isolated from serum of a rat with a wheat allergy, then reductively treated using dithiothreitol and covalently coupled to alkaline phosphatase. This conjugate was used in a non-competitive binding assay. The automated system was equipped with an immunoreaction column, an anion-exchange column, a luminescent reaction column and a photodetector. Antibody–antigen complexes were separated from their free conjugate on the basis of a difference in isoelectric point (pI) by an anion-exchange column. This simple technique permits the assay of wheat-protein allergen in 25 min with a reliable detection limit of 5 μg/ml. The anion-exchange column was regenerated by occasional elution with N-methylpiperazine buffer (pH 5.0) containing 0.5 M NaCl, to remove free conjugate. Free conjugate recovered in this manner could be reused up to four times without significant decrease in sensitivity of the immunoassay.     

Optimization of a lateral flow immunoassay for the ultrasensitive detection of aflatoxin M1 in milk

A high sensitive immunoassay-based lateral flow device for semi-quantitatively determine aflatoxin M₁ (AFM₁) in milk was developed. Investigation and optimization of the competitor design and of the gold-labelling strategy allowed the attainment of the ultra-sensitive assessment of AFM₁ contamination at nanograms per litre level (LOD 20 ng L⁻¹, IC₅₀ 99 ng L⁻¹), as requested by European regulations. A one order of magnitude detectability enhancement in comparison to previously reported gold colloid immunochromatographic assays for this toxin was obtained.     

Single-molecule immunosorbent assay as a tool for human immunodeficiency virus-1 antigen detection

Ultrasensitive detection and quantification of viral antigen with a novel single-molecule immunosorbent assay (SMISA) was achieved. Antigen from human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), the major etiological agent of acquired immune deficiency syndrome, served as the screening target in this study. The target molecule was sandwiched between a polyclonal capture antibody and a monoclonal detector antibody. The capture antibody was covalently immobilized on (3-glycidoxypropyl) trimethoxy silane-modified glass slides. The detector antibody was conjugated with fluorescent Alexa Fluor 532 labeled secondary antibody prior to being used as a probe for the antigen. Imaging was performed with a total internal reflection fluorescence single-molecule detection system. This technique is demonstrated for detecting HIV-1 p24 antigen down to 0.1 pg/mL with a dynamic range of over four orders of magnitude. A Langmuir isotherm fits the molecule count dependence on the target concentration. The target antigen was further tested in 20% human serum, and the results showed that neither sensitivity nor dynamic range was affected by the biological matrix. SMISA is therefore a promising approach for the early diagnosis of viral induced diseases.     

Liposome-based immunostrip for the rapid detection of Salmonella

Salmonellae are ubiquitous human pathogens, which pose a danger to the elderly and children. Due to the increased number of outbreaks of human illness associated with the consumption of contaminated products in the USA and many other countries, there is an urgent need to develop rapid assays to detect common food-borne pathogens. This study demonstrates the feasibility of using a detectable label comprising methyl blue (MB), a visible dye, entrapped inside liposomes. Immunoliposomes tagged with anti-Salmonella common structural antigens (CSA) antibody encapsulating MB dye were prepared and used as the signal amplifier for the development of a field-portable colorimetric immunoassay to detect Salmonellae. Tapping mode atomic force microscopy (TMAFM), a scanning probe technique, was utilized to demonstrate the presence of anti-Salmonella antibody at the thus-prepared liposome. A plastic-backed nitrocellulose strip with two immobilized zones formed the basis of a sandwich assay. The first zone was the antigen capture zone (AC zone), used in a sandwich (noncompetitive) assay format; the other was the biotin capture zone (BC zone), used as a quality control index for the strip assay. During the capillary migration of the wicking reagent containing 80 μL of immunoliposomes and 40 μL of the test sample (heat-killed S. typhimurium), sample pathogens with surface-bound immunoliposomes were captured at the AC zone, while the unbound immunoliposomes continued to migrate and bind to the anti-biotin antibodies coated on the BC zone. The color density of the AC zone was directly proportional to the number of Salmonella typhimurium in the test sample. The detection limit of the current assay with heat-killed Salmonella typhimurium was 1,680 cells. The cross-reactivity of the proposed immunoassay was also investigated, and pathogens including E. coli O157:H7 and Listeria genus specific caused no interference with the detection of Salmonella typhimurium. Shi-Chin Zeng and Wei-Hsiang Tseng contributed equally to this publication.     

A fluorescent polymer dots positive readout fluorescent quenching lateral flow sensor for ractopamine rapid detection

A fluorescent polymer dots positive readout and sensitive lateral flow assay (LFA) based on fluorescent quenching has been developed to detect ractopamine (Rac), a chemical residue in food, harmful to human health. Compared with traditional LFA strips, these fluorescent quenching LFA (FQLFA) strips provide a positive correlation method that allows users to obtain results from a weak fluorescent signal. The immunoassay strip scheme is based on the fact that fluorescent polymer dots (FPDs) in close proximity to gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) represent a strong fluorescent quenching. We show that the FQLFA strips can be used as a source to quantitatively analyze Rac in phosphate buffers (PB), swine urine and muscle tissue samples. The lowest detection limitation of the FQLFA was 0.16 ng mL⁻¹. Our results indicated that this novel scheme was more suitable for rapid detection of small molecules.     

Development of multiplex loop mediated isothermal amplification (m-LAMP) label-based gold nanoparticles lateral flow dipstick biosensor for detection of pathogenic Leptospira

In recent years extensive numbers of molecular diagnostic methods have been developed to meet the need of point-of-care devices. Efforts have been made towards producing rapid, simple and inexpensive DNA tests, especially in the diagnostics field. We report on the development of a label-based lateral flow dipstick for the rapid and simple detection of multiplex loop-mediated isothermal amplification (m-LAMP) amplicons. A label-based m-LAMP lateral flow dipstick assay was developed for the simultaneous detection of target DNA template and a LAMP internal control. This biosensor operates through a label based system, in which probe-hybridization and the additional incubation step are eliminated. We demonstrated this m-LAMP assay by detecting pathogenic Leptospira, which causes the re-emerging disease Leptospirosis. The lateral flow dipstick was developed to detect of three targets, the LAMP target amplicon, the LAMP internal control amplicon and a chromatography control. Three lines appeared on the dipstick, indicating positive results for all representative pathogenic Leptospira species, whereas two lines appeared, indicating negative results, for other bacterial species. The specificity of this biosensor assay was 100% when it was tested with 13 representative pathogenic Leptospira species, 2 intermediate Leptospira species, 1 non-pathogenic Leptospira species and 28 other bacteria species. This study found that this DNA biosensor was able to detect DNA at concentrations as low as 3.95 × 10⁻¹ genomic equivalent ml⁻¹. An integrated m-LAMP and label-based lateral flow dipstick was successfully developed, promising simple and rapid visual detection in clinical diagnostics and serving as a point-of-care device.     

Commercial lateral flow devices for rapid detection of peanut (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Arachis hypogaea)</Emphasis> and hazelnut (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Corylus avellana)</Emphasis> cross-contamination in the industrial production of cookies

Lateral flow devices (LFDs) are qualitative immunochromatographic tests for the rapid and specific detection of target analytes. We investigated commercially available LFDs for their ability to detect potentially allergenic peanut and hazelnut in raw cookie dough and chocolate, two important food matrices in the industrial production of cookies. Each three commercial LFDs for the detection of hazelnut and peanut were performed according to the manufacturers’ instructions. All LFDs had comparably satisfactory specificity that was investigated with a variety of characteristic foods and food ingredients used in the production of cookies. In concordance with hazelnut-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), walnut was the most cross-reactive food for hazelnut-specific LFD. The sensitivity was verified in raw cookie doughs and chocolates that were either spiked with peanut or hazelnut between 1 and 25 mg/kg, respectively. Two hazelnut-specific LFDs detected hazelnut at a level of 3.5 mg/kg in both matrices, whereas the third LFD detected hazelnut at a level of 3.9 mg/kg in dough and 12.5 mg/kg in chocolate. Two peanut-specific LFDs detected peanut at a level of 1 mg/kg in both matrices. The third LFD detected peanut at a level of 14.2 mg/kg in chocolate and 4 mg/kg in dough. In conclusion, specific and sensitive LFD were identified for each hazelnut and peanut, having a level of sensitivity that is comparable to commercial ELISA for the investigated matrices. Such sensitive, specific, and rapid tests are useful analytical tools for allergen screening and sanitation in the industrial manufacture of foods.     

A simple aptamer molecular beacon assay for rapid detection of aflatoxin B1

A simple aptamer molecular beacon assay for rapid detection of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) was achieved. AFB1-binding induced formation of a hairpin structure and closeness of fluorophore label and quencher probe, causing fluorescence decrease.