Research Publications (Food Safety)

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is an important indicator in food safety assessment. In the present study, a non-label electrochemical aptasensor based on the Cu metal–organic framework (CuMOF) was fabricated to measure AFB1. The CuMOF was synthesized with a simple method and used to modify glassy carbon electrode (GCE).

A comprehensive analysis of crucial metabolites in seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) was conducted by analyzing the methanolic extract of berries originating from 37 geographical sites of the Indian Himalayas by using 1H NMR-based metabolome profiling. The concentration of 103 metabolites was annotated, of which two, spermidine and beta-alanine, were reported for the first time in higher concentrations in berries collected from Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.

Abstract

A method based on QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe) sample preparation coupled with ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) was developed for determining 43 pesticide residues in strawberries. The clean-up sorbents were optimized, with 50 mg PSA + 50 mg C18 + 150 mg MgSO4 showing the best performance in d-SPE. The effect of injection volume on matrix effect (ME) was investigated.

Highly sensitive and rapid detection of chloramphenicol antibiotics (CAPs) in aquatic products via lateral flow immunoassay (LFA) strips remains challenging. This study developed a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)–based LFA strip for ultrasensitive analysis of CAPs by using noble metal nanoparticles (NPs). A kind of core–shell Au@Ag NPs were employed to prepare SERS tags considering the stability and repeatability.

The development of detection method for aflatoxin gene cluster in Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticusis is an effective approach to prevent the widespread of aflatoxins, which are considered as extremely, toxic substances. Herein, a hairpin DNA-assisted fluorescence probe switch based on Förster resonant energy transfer (FRET) was designed.

A novel and sensitive chromatography method with modified Quick Polar Pesticide (QuPPe) sample preparation was validated for determination of eight high polar pesticides in cherries by liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The validation data executed the conditions of the European SANTE/12682/2019 Guidance Document. Good linearity (R2 > 0.99) was observed, and the residuals were lower than ± 20%.

Herein an electrochemiluminescence (ECL) sensor based on graphene aerogel (GA) for detecting metronidazole (MTZ) was proposed. The ECL behavior of the Ru(bpy)32+-doped silica nanoparticles (SiO2@Ru(bpy)32+ NPs) was investigated with MTZ as the coreactant. Quantitative detection of MTZ was realized as MTZ could effectively enhance the ECL signal of the SiO2@Ru(bpy)32+ NPs.

Assessing and monitoring the growth and response of bacteria to antibiotics is of crucial importance in research laboratories, as well as in food, environment, medical, and pharmaceutical industrial applications. In this study, Escherichia coli was chosen as the model microorganism to evaluate its response (e.g., growth) to a commercial antibiotic—tetracycline.

An efficient sample preparation method, dispersive solid-phase microextraction–dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction, coupled to gas chromatography–flame ionization detector was developed for the extraction, preconcentration, and determination of six pesticides (ametryn, penconazole, oxadiazon, diniconazole, tebuconazole, and fenoxaprop-P-ethyl) in vegetable and fruit juice samples. In this study, stearic acid–coated calcium carbonate is utilized as the sorbent.

The long-term accumulation of pesticide residues brought a huge threat to healthy lives of animals and humans. However, traditional detection methods for pesticide residues required expensive equipment and tedious operation. An electrochemiluminescence (ECL) aptasensor based on nano-antimony tin oxide and titanium dioxide composites (ATO@TiO2) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) for rapid detection of malathion residues had been developed to solve the above problems.

The neomycin residues in milk could pose potential hazard for human health, and now, immunoassays are widely used for on-site screening of neomycin and other food contaminate residues. In this paper, the neomycin B was conjugated with carrier protein as immunogens, and a highly specific antibody was produced.

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is considered as one of the most hazardous mycotoxins commonly occurring in grains. Thus, the monitoring of OTA is extremely significant. Herein, a synergistic strategy to detect OTA in grains based on the combination of DNA tetrahedron-structured aptamer (DTA) and hybridization chain reaction (HCR) was proposed. Briefly, DTA was assembled on the gold electrode.

A novel sensitive method for simultaneous determination of 19 antibiotics and 19 anthelmintics in edible fungi using QuEChERS-UHPLC-MS/MS method was established. For every 10.0 g sample, 20 mL of acetonitrile with 2% acetic acid and 1.2 g sodium acetate were used for extraction, followed by 6.0 g anhydrous MgSO4 for dehydration, and 50 mg anhydrous MgSO4+10 mg PSA for purification.

Abstract

Using a recently developed genetically modified microorganisms (GMM) detection strategy, unexpected contaminations of unauthorized GMM in commercialized microbial fermentation products have been reported. A first-line real-time PCR screening analysis was initially performed to determine the presence of key targets frequently found in genetically modified (GM) bacteria.

In this study, a multi-component analytical method for the detection of pesticide residues in paprika by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS) was developed and validated. The sample preparation is based on an extraction step with acetonitrile followed by a cleanup step using dispersive solid-phase extraction.

The tuna fish processing industry produces more than 50% of waste and by-products (scales, head, viscera, etc.) that are usually discarded or used to produce low added value products such as fish meals. However, these waste materials still contain molecules essential for the human diet, such as essential metals, vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, amino acids, and proteins of high nutritional value.

In recent years, food safety issues have become more serious, which caused extensive study on various methods for detecting food hazards. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have drawn significant attention in nanoscience for the construction of biosensors because of their good biocompatibility, excellent quenching effect, unique surface plasmon resonance (SPR) properties, and high surface-to-volume ratio.

In this paper, the efficient magnetic dummy molecular imprinted polymers were firstly synthesized by dummy template (raffinose). The dummy molecularly imprinted layer was polymerized on the surface of Fe3O4 nanoparticles modified with NH2 group. The micromorphology and chemical composites of prepared polymers were detailed characterized.

3-Monochloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD) monoesters are a form of 3-MCPD esters known as potential food contaminant that may occur in a variety of food samples. A dispersive solid-phase extraction (dSPE) was developed to provide clean-up and pre-concentration in the determination of 1-palmitoyl-3-MCPD and 1-oleoyl-3-MCPD prior to gas chromatography-flame ionization detector analysis (GC-FID).

A cold-induced-homogeneous liquid–liquid extraction method combined with deep eutectic solvent-based dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction has been done to extract several endocrine disrupting compounds (phenol, p-chlorophenol, p-nitrophenol, octylphenol, methyl paraben, ethyl paraben, butyl paraben, and bisphenol A) and hydroxymethylfurfural from honey samples before their determination by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry.

Injudicious and ever-increasing use of pesticides has made consumers more aware and critical about quality control and quality assurance in fruits and vegetables. Presence of pesticide residues in food commodities is one of the most indispensable parameters in quality control and quality assurance. To meet out the demand of acceptable or no residues in crops, different agencies viz. Codex Alimentarius Commission, European Union, FSSAI etc.

Abstract

A simple, rapid, and efficient liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) method, operated in electrospray ionization (ESI) and quadrupole linear ion trap modes, has been developed for the identification and structural characterization of zearalenone (ZEN) in corn oil. Samples (5 g) were extracted with acetonitrile/water (80:20, v/v).