An Overview of Recent Electrochemical Immunosensing Strategies for Mycotoxins Detection

Abstract

Electrochemical immunosensors are affinity ligand based biosesnors based on solid state devices in which immunochemical reactions are coupled to a transducer surface to generate the output electrochemical signal. The concept of immunosensor methodology is similar to conventional ELISA based immunoassays; however, in contrast to immunoassays, modern transducer technology permits the highly sensitive quantification of the immune complex in divers ways. Mycotoxins are naturally occurring toxic secondary metabolites produced by fungi contaminating food and feed and are responsible for mycotoxicosis with symptoms of intoxication causing substantial effects on animal and human health. Based on the adverse effect, it has been very crucial to develop ultrasensitive sensing methodologies to ensure food safety and prevent risks in agro‐food and environmental sector. For these purposes, many electrochemical immunosensors based on different analyzing techniques have been reported for mycotoxins monitoring. In this review paper, we provided a general overview on the practical aspects of electrochemical imunosensor designs such as assay format, choice of the transducer surface, immobilization methodologies, signal generating probe and type of output electrochemical signal. In doing so, we also reviewed the recent development in electrochemical immunosensor applications for mycotoxin analysis.

Detection of the Plant Pathogen Pseudomonas Syringae pv. Lachrymans on Antibody-Modified Gold Electrodes by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy

“…Angular leaf spot (ALS) is a widespread cucumber disease caused by this phytopathogen, limiting its open-field production [5][6][7]. The symptoms are water-soaked lesions on the leaves, and when they become necrotic contribute to the reduced often offering higher sensitivities thanks to advanced transducer technology [42]. Antibody-based biosensors can detect both matrix or surface proteins of the target pathogen.…”

Label-Free Aptasensors for the Detection of Mycotoxins

“…They occur more frequently in areas with a hot and humid climate, favorable for the growth of molds, but they can also be found in temperate zones [60]. Mycotoxins pose serious health and economic problems, being responsible for mycotoxicosis, at low levels, with symptoms of intoxication causing substantial effects on animal and human health [5]. Among about 200 known mycotoxins, ochratoxins, aflatoxins and fumonisins are the most toxic [61].…”

“…However, antibodies are also proteinic in nature, and are prone to denaturation phenomena under varying experimental and physiological conditions. Moreover, they are mainly produced in living animals, and this results in relatively very high assay costs [5]. Phage display technology is proposed for in vitro selection of monoclonal antibodies characterized by high specificity and affinity.…”

Electrochemical Affinity Biosensors in Food Safety

“…Vidal et al [52] reviewed the use of electrochemical affinity biosensors for detection of mycotoxins. More recently, electrochemical immunosensing strategies for mycotoxins were also reviewed by Catanante et al [53].…”