Extraction-less, rapid assay for the direct detection of 2,4,6-trichloroanisole (TCA) in cork samples.
2,4,6-trichloroanisole (TCA), the cork taint molecule, has been the target of several analytical approaches over the few past years. In spite of the development of highly efficient and sensitive tools for its detection, ranging from advanced chromatography to biosensor-based techniques, a practical breakthrough for routine cork screening purposes has not yet been realized, in part due to the requirement of a lengthy extraction of TCA in organic solvents, mostly 12% ethanol and the high detectability required. In the present report, we present a modification of a previously reported biosensor system based on the measurement of the electric response of cultured fibroblast cells membrane-engineered with the pAb78 TCA-specific antibody. Samples were prepared by macerating cork tissue and mixing it directly with the cellular biorecognition elements, without any intervening extraction process. By using this novel approach, we were able to detect TCA in just five minutes at extremely low concentrations (down to 0.2 ppt). The novel biosensor offers a number of practical benefits, including a very considerable reduction in the total assay time by one day, and a full portability, enabling its direct employment for on-site, high throughput screening of cork in the field and production facilities, without requiring any type of supporting infrastructure.
Faculty of Biotechnology, School of Food, Biotechnology and Development, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, Greece.
Theofylaktos
T
Apostolou
Nanobiotechnology for Diagnostics (Nb4D) Group, IQAC-CSIC, Jordi Girona, 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain; CIBER de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Spain.
Nuria
N
Pascual
Nanobiotechnology for Diagnostics (Nb4D) Group, IQAC-CSIC, Jordi Girona, 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain; CIBER de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Spain.
M-Pilar
MP
Marco
Department of Electronics, Technical Educational Institute (T.E.I.) of Athens, Greece.
Anastassios
A
Moschos
Department of Electronics, Technical Educational Institute (T.E.I.) of Athens, Greece.
Anastassios
A
Petropoulos
Department of Electronics, Technical Educational Institute (T.E.I.) of Athens, Greece.
Grigoris
G
Kaltsas
Faculty of Biotechnology, School of Food, Biotechnology and Development, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, Greece. Electronic address: skin@aua.gr.
Spyridon
S
Kintzios
D000818:Animals; D000840:Anisoles / Q000032:analysis*; D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D002138:Calibration; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D004867:Equipment Design; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D008422:Materials Testing; D024301:Plant Bark / Q000737:chemistry*; D029963:Quercus; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D013997:Time Factors; D014709:Vero Cells; D014920:Wine / Q000032:analysis
D000840:Anisoles; D012997:Solvents; C110228:2,4,6-trichloroanisole
2,4,6-trichloroanisole (TCA); Bioelectric Recognition Assay (BERA); Cellular biosensor; Cork taint; Membrane-engineering