Research Publications (Food Safety)

Fabric-phase sorptive extraction (FPSE) coats organic–inorganic hybrid sorbent materials onto flexible and hydrophilic fabrics through sol–gel sorbent-coating technology. Herein, we explored four different coating chemistries, including those of nonpolar sol–gel poly(dimethylsiloxane), medium polar sol–gel poly(tetrahydrofuran), and polar sol–gel poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)–block-poly(propylene glycol)–PEG, and sol–gel PEG.

A very explicate and ligand-less ultrasound-vortex-assisted dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (US-VA-DLLME) technique has been designed for the pre-concentration and extraction of ultra-trace amounts of cadmium ions, before its determination by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry.

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Nuts and peanuts are foods that are rich in minerals, vitamins, fibre and healthy fats in addition to antioxidant compounds. However, these food products can be subject to adulterations and fraud mainly due to their cost or contamination as a result of improper handling. Different types and degrees of damage can be caused to consumers due to food fraud, highlighting the serious consequences that can occur when the adulterant is toxic or allergenic.

The monitoring of food contaminants is of interests to both food regulatory bodies and the consumers. This literature review covers polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with regard to their background, sources of exposures, and occurrence in food and environment as well as health hazards. Furthermore, analytical methods focusing on the analysis of PAHs in tea, coffee, milk, and alcoholic samples for the last 16 years are presented.

In this paper, a simple and effective strategy was designed for colorimetric sensing of benzoyl peroxide (BPO) based on the morphological transition of silver nanoprisms (AgNPRs). The decomposition of O–O bond of BPO generated strong oxidant benzoyl oxide free radical, which could be first oxidized the silver atoms at the corner areas and the {110} facet of AgNPRs.

Fabric-phase sorptive extraction (FPSE) coats organic–inorganic hybrid sorbent materials onto flexible and hydrophilic fabrics through sol–gel sorbent-coating technology. Herein, we explored four different coating chemistries, including those of nonpolar sol–gel poly(dimethylsiloxane), medium polar sol–gel poly(tetrahydrofuran), and polar sol–gel poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)–block-poly(propylene glycol)–PEG, and sol–gel PEG.

Ringer tablet-based micelle-mediated extraction-solvent back extraction method coupled to HPLC has been investigated for the determination of neonicotinoid pesticides in honey, cucumber, and orange samples. The method employs the entrapment of the analytes in the micelles of non-ionic surfactant (Triton X-114). By ultrasonication, the ringer tablet is dissolved, and the extractant is released into the aqueous phase as very tiny droplets to provide a cloudy solution.

The most commonly reported serotype of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is O157:H7. This pathogen presents a threat to public health and is a cause of foodborne illness worldwide. The efficient and sensitive detection of E. coli O157:H7 remains a challenge for food safety. In this report, we developed a sensitive and specific loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) reaction coupled with a lateral flow (LF) assay to rapidly detect E. coli O157:H7.

For centuries, herbal medicines have been used to treat humans and animals. Veterinary medicines are well-regulated; inspectors monitor milk and associated dairy products to screen for unacceptable contaminants. However, few scholars have discussed how the by-products of veterinary herbal medicine can be found in food products.

Honokiol is neolignan present in the magnolia bark. It displays versatile pharmacological properties—neuroprotective and anxiolytic effect, anti-cancer activity and antimicrobial effect being the most important. This paper aims to develop a voltammetric non-enzymatic biosensor for honokiol detection, quantification and monitoring in drugs and cosmetic products. The materials used in this study were synthesized and characterized by HR-XRPD, SEM, ATR-FTIR and electrochemical methods.

A programmed, autonomous, and self-powered DNA motor was developed for one-step amplification detection of ochratoxin A (OTA). The OTA can bind with the aptamer of hairpin and induce the opening of hairpin. Then, the Mg2+-specific DNAzyme can circularly cleave the fluorophore-labeled DNA on the gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), causing autonomous and processive movement of DNA motor.

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Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. enterica ser. Typhimurium) is one of the main causes of human bacterial gastroenteritis. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a highly specific and accurate method for S. enterica ser. Typhimurium detection in food. In the study, we constructed a ratiometric electrochemical biosensor based on saltatory rolling circle amplification (SRCA) and dual-signal electrochemical readout.

Harmful secondary metabolites produced by fungi, mycotoxins, are found worldwide in a multitude of products. Roquefortine C (ROQ-C) is a mycotoxin produced by Penicillium roqueforti, the major fungus used to ripen blue-veined cheeses. To facilitate the screening of cheeses for ROQ-C, a method based upon the ambient ionization technique of direct analysis in real time-mass spectrometry (DART-MS) was developed.

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In this work, we synthesized a novel hyperbranched Au plasmonic blackbody (AuPB) and applied it as a signal amplification label in immunochromatographic test strip (ICTS) sensor for the sensitive detection of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in maize.

As a typical halophilic bacterium, Vibrio parahaemolyticus (V. parahaemolyticus) is regarded as one of the marine seafood-borne pathogens causing severe illnesses in humans and aquatic animals. Herein, a novel single primer isothermal amplification (SPIA) technique which was modified with SYBR Green II was successfully developed for the visual detection of V. parahaemolyticus.

Foodborne illnesses caused by Escherichia coli (E. coli) are causing worldwide morbidity and mortality, threating human health. One way to limit and eliminate E. coli infections is developing fast and sensitive methods for detection. Biosensors have emerged to complement traditional strategies for E. coli detection. This review aims at providing an updated summary of developed biosensors for specific detection of E. coli in the last 5 years.

In the European Union (EU), Salmonella was the causative agent responsible for almost one in three (30.7%) of all foodborne outbreaks reported by member states during 2018, causing 11,581 cases of illness, which represented an increase of 20.6% compared to 2017.

Food allergy has become an important food safety concern affecting people’s health and quality of life. As one of the most common allergic foods, egg poses a safety hazard to susceptible individuals. Therefore, it is crucial to develop rapid and sensitive detection methods for allergen monitoring. Sandwich ELISA detection method was developed based on two polyclonal antibodies for the detection of egg white allergens in this study.

A multi-residue method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of 39 and 33 chemical pesticides in rice using LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS, respectively. The coefficient of determination was 0.994 to 0.999 over the linear concentration range of 0.01 to 0.1 μg mL-1. The LOD and LOQ were in the range of 0.31 to 3.35 and 1.04 to 10.06 μgkg-1, repsectively.

Sensitive, simple, and rapid pathogen separation and detection methods are essential for the early diagnosis and immediate medical treatment of bacterial infections. In this study, a novel strategy based on vancomycin (Van)-modified ovalbumin (OVA) mediated magnetic nanoprobes (MBs-OVA-Van) combined with multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR) was developed for efficient isolation and detection of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Bacillus cereus (B.