Research Publications (Food Safety)

Bovine β-casein is a highly polymorphic protein, with A1 and A2 representing the most frequent variants identified in Western cattle breeds. Depending on the presence of histidine or proline at position 67 of the sequence, β-casein variants can be grouped in two families: those within the A1 family (A1-like), possessing histidine, and those within the A2 family (A2-like), with proline.

In this paper, using molybdenum disulfide doped with gold nanoclusters (Au NCs@MoS2) as the substrate, an aflatoxin aptamer sensor was constructed utilizing iron porphyrin organic porous material modified with streptavidin and loaded with gold nano-bipyramids (SA-Au NBPs@ porous aromatic framework (PAF)-40-Fe) as a label. The catalyzed reduction current of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) by Au NBPs@PAF-40-Fe was detected which is proportional to the concentration of aflatoxin B1.

The microbiological contamination of food causes concern for public health due to the pathogenic action of microorganisms and the increasing of antimicrobial resistance observed in bacterial strains.

Salting-out assisted liquid-liquid extraction (SALLE) coupled to dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) was developed as an efficient extraction method for purification and preconcentration of bisphenol A and six analogs (B, E, F, S, BADGE, BFDGE) in canned coffee drinks. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was applied for the determination of the analytes.

This work proposes, for the first time, a method based on homogenous liquid-liquid microextraction with switchable hydrophilicity solvent as extraction phase (SHS-HLLME) for the determination of food-packaging contaminants including dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), di-n-octyl phthalate (DNOP), 4-octylphenol (4-OP), 4-nonylphenol (4-NP), and benzophenone (BZP) in coconut water samples by gas chromatography-mass s

Fruits contain nutrients, minerals, trace elements, vitamins, and phytochemicals that are important in terms of human health. When fruits are consumed in a balanced diet, they have a positive effect with regard to reducing disease risk. As a result of heavy metal contamination of the environment, they can be a potential source of toxic elements so it is important to determine the toxic, essential, and trace elements in fresh fruit and commercial fruit products such as fruit juice, marmalade.

This paper describes a novel strategy based on fluorescence energy transfer (FRET) with green synthesis of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) and gold nanoparticles (GNPs) for the detection of one of the most pathogenic bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Novel green CQDs with blue color emission and high quantum yield were synthesized from olive leaves via the hydrothermal method. The fluorescence of the CQDs was quenched in the presence of aptamers and GNPs.

Melamine adulteration is a fraudulent practice to increase the protein content of food in some areas of the world. In 2008, many babies in China suffered from serious illness and death because of melamine-tainted powdered infant formula. The issue prompted researchers to develop methods on detecting melamine in milk powder. Optical spectroscopy technologies have been proven to be effective in identifying and quantifying food contaminants.

Single-stranded DNA aptamers that specifically bind to sulfaquinoxaline (SQX) were selected by a graphene oxide–based SEL EX (GO-SELEX) technique assisted by a non-immobilizing TAMRA-labeled oligonucleotide library. After 8 rounds of selection against SQX, two aptamer candidates (i.e., SBA 1 and SBA 2) were obtained. Furthermore, the two full-length aptamers were truncated to obtain the aptamers (i.e. SBA 1-1, SBA 2-1, and SBA 2-2).

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is an active enzyme present in the raw milk. Due to its unique heat-sensitive properties, it is employed as an indicator to evaluate efficiency of the pasteurization treatment. In the present study, a method comprising of HPLC with fluorescence detector was developed for the quantification of ALP enzyme activity in the pasteurized milk.

Nowadays, the overuse of antibiotics in cow breeding is a common issue worldwide. Real-time monitoring is critical for antibiotic control of dairy products. Herein, we report a rapid detection method for the duplex detection of two beta-lactam antibiotics (cephalexin and ampicillin) in milk powder using lateral flow (LF) combined with surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS).

A novel quantitative photothermal-sensing immunochromatographic assay (PT-ICA) with high sensitivity was developed for the detection of bisphenol A (BPA). Gold acid chloride trihydrate (HAuCl4·3H2O) was first reduced by citric acid trisodium salt (C6H5Na3O7) to form Au nanoparticles and adsorbed on the surface of black phosphorus nanosheets to form a black phosphorus-Au (BP-Au) complex.

The use of antimicrobial agents in livestock breeding is inevitable for prophylactic and treatment purposes, in order to maintain health and improve production of food products. However, this practice resulted in development of community resistance to antimicrobials due to residues found in livestock products. Milk is a key nutritional product that’s widely consumed for its high nutritional value.

Snack samples like potato crisp, fried potato, popcorn, and Cheetos have been known as carbohydrate- and protein-rich food. These tasty foods have high potential to contain acrylamide. Genotoxic and carcinogenic effect of acrylamide on human health cause to specific focus for measuring of acrylamide in food samples (Esposito et al. Food Chem Toxicol 108:249–256, 2017).

A double signal enhanced surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor system was developed, which involved graphene-based magnetic dispersion solid-phase extraction (MDSPE) and carboxylated graphene oxide (GO-COOH) materials as amplifying elements in order to achieve real-time determinations of estradiol (E2), diethylstilboestrol (DES), and bisphenol A (BPA) via an indirect competition method.

In the food supply chain, quality control has a very important role in maintaining customer confidence. In the EU, food safety aspects are strictly regulated; however, composition requirements and standard control methods are generally undefined. The rapidly increasing wild boar population has a growing market share in venison or game meat production.

A dispersive liquid–liquid micro-extraction method was combined with high-performance liquid chromatography to rapidly and efficiently separate and detect organophosphorus pesticide residues in coarse cereals. In order to select the best conditions, the extraction conditions, including the type and volume of the extraction agent, the type and volume of the dispersant, extraction time, pH, and the amount of NaCl, were optimized.

Yeast extract (YE) is tremendously used as a flavor enhancer in foods because of its composition. However, different types of YE have different aromatic profiles. This study focuses on the thermal treatment of glutathione-enriched yeast extract (GSH-YE) at different temperatures with the addition of Maillard precursors to investigate any change in its volatile organic profile. Headspace gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (HS-GC-IMS) was utilized for the instrumental analysis.

Chloramphenicol is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that is administered to cattle, fish, poultry, and honeybees among other animals. Consumption of food from such sources leads to non-regenerative anaemia, aplastic anaemia, and bone marrow suppression in humans. It is therefore a pressing necessity to detect chloramphenicol in food items through a convenient, accurate, and rapid method.

The novelty of this research work lies in a simple, fast, and plausible analysis of acrylamide in food samples accomplished using an iOS gadgets–based digital imaging colorimeter (iOS gadgets–based DIC).

In this study, mAb-5A7 and mAb-1D7, two highly specific monoclonal antibodies against tylosin (TYL), were prepared by using hapten TYL-carboxymethoxylamine hemihydrochloride (TYL-CMO), and they showed IC50 values of 13.84 ng/mL and 13.01 ng/mL and LODs of 1.21 and 0.98 ng/mL, respectively, in indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Ochratoxins are possible human carcinogens. The aim of this study is to develop a rapid and sensitive competitive immunofluorescent analysis for determination of ochratoxin A (OTA) on the base of immobilized polyclonal antibody against ochratoxin and immobilized F(ab′)2 fragment on magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). F(ab′)2 fragment of anti-OTA antibody was obtained by pepsin hydrolysis of polyclonal antibody against OTA.

Fusarium-damaged kernels (FDK) contain a wide spectrum of mycotoxins, affecting the quality and safety of wheat used as food and feed. At present, traditional methods to detect FDK are time-consuming and laborious. Therefore, we propose herein a new spectral classification index (NSCI) method that can provide simple and low-cost FDK detection by analysing spectra in the wavelength range 350–2500 nm.

Pentachlorophenol (PCP), commonly used as a wood preservative, pesticide, and fungicide, is the most toxic of all chlorophenols and can accumulate in living organisms. It is of great significance to construct a sensitive method for the detection of PCP in real samples. In this study, a simple, novel, and sensitive electrochemical sensor for pentachlorophenol (PCP) was constructed by modifying glassy carbon electrode (GCE) with silver-reduced graphene oxide (AgNPs-rGO) nanocomposites.

Whey protein-based supplements are one of the most consumed products to improve performance, and they are, generally, recognized as being safe. However, recent studies indicated different types of adulterations in these products, including the presence of diuretics and stimulants, allowing the possibility of contamination by other substances with pharmacological activities, such as anabolic agents.