title: Nanoparticle-based immunosensors and immunoassays for aflatoxins.
abstract: Aflatoxins are naturally existing mycotoxins produced mainly by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, present in a wide range of food and feed products. Because of their extremely high toxicity and carcinogenicity, strict control of maximum residue levels of aflatoxins in foodstuff is set by many countries. In daily routine, different chromatographic methods are used almost exclusively. As supplement, in several companies enzyme immunoassay-based sample testing as primary screening is performed. Recently, nanomaterials such as noble metal nanoparticles, magnetic particles, carbon nanomaterials, quantum dots, and silica nanomaterials are increasingly utilized for aflatoxin determination to improve the sensitivity and simplify the detection. They are employed either as supports for the immobilization of biomolecules or as electroactive or optical labels for signal transduction and amplification. Several nanoparticle-based electrochemical, piezoelectric, optical, and immunodipstick assays for aflatoxins have been developed. In this review, we summarize these recent advances and illustrate novel concepts and promising applications in the field of food safety.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hydrochemistry and Chair of Analytical Chemistry, Technische Universität München, Marchioninistrasse 17, D-81377 München, Germany.
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hydrochemistry and Chair of Analytical Chemistry, Technische Universität München, Marchioninistrasse 17, D-81377 München, Germany.
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Niessner
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Analysis and Detection for Food Safety (MOE & Fujian Province), Department of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Dianping
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hydrochemistry and Chair of Analytical Chemistry, Technische Universität München, Marchioninistrasse 17, D-81377 München, Germany. Electronic address: dietmar.knopp@ch.tum.de.
authors.forename: Dietmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Knopp
mesh_terms: D000348:Aflatoxins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods*; D053758:Nanoparticles; D045663:Quantum Dots
chemical_list: D000348:Aflatoxins
keywords: Aflatoxins; Competitive assay; Food safety control; Immunoassay; Immunosensor; Nanomaterial