A simple and sensitive approach for ochratoxin A detection using a label-free fluorescent aptasensor

PLoS One. 2014 Jan 21;9(1):e85968. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0085968. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Ochratoxin A(OTA) is found to be one of the predominant contaminating mycotoxins in a wide variety of food commodities. To avoid the risk of OTA consumption, the detection and quantitation of OTA level are of great significance. Based on the fact that ssDNA aptamer has the ability to form a double-strand structure with its complementary sequence, a simple and rapid aptamer-based label-free approach for highly sensitive and selective fluorescence detection of OTA was developed by using ultra-sensitive double-strand DNA specific dyes PicoGreen. The results showed that as low as 1 ng/mL of OTA could be detected with a dynamic range of more than 5 orders of magnitude which satisfies the requirements for OTA maximum residue limit in various food regulated by European Commission. With the specificity of aptamer, the assay exhibited high selectivity for OTA against two other analogues (N-acetyl-l-phenylalanine and zearalenone). We also tested the aptasensor practicability using real sample of 1% beer spiked with a series of concentration of OTA and the results show good tolerance to matrix effect. All detections could be achieved in less than 30 min, which provides a simple, quick and sensitive detection method for OTA screening in food safety and could be easily extend to other small molecular chemical compounds detection which aptamer has been selected.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aptamers, Nucleotide / metabolism*
  • Biosensing Techniques / methods*
  • Calibration
  • Ochratoxins / analysis*
  • Organic Chemicals / metabolism
  • Staining and Labeling
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Aptamers, Nucleotide
  • Ochratoxins
  • Organic Chemicals
  • PicoGreen
  • ochratoxin A

Grants and funding

Funding was provided by 2012DFA31140, http://www.istcp.org.cn/. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.