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Silver and gold nanoparticles as multi-chromatic lateral flow assay probes for the detection of food allergens

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Abstract

In this study, we report the simultaneous use of gold and silver nanoparticles to set a multicolor multiplex lateral flow immunoassay (xLFIA). Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), spherical in shape and characterized by a brilliant yellow color, were obtained by a new viable one-step synthetic protocol. AgNPs were stable over time and acceptably robust to conditions used for fabricating LFIA devices. These AgNPs were employed as a colorimetric probe in combination with two different kinds of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to set a visual xLFIA for detecting allergens. Surface plasmon resonance peaks of probes (AgNPs, spherical and desert rose-like AuNPs) were centered at 420, 525, and 620 nm, respectively. Therefore, the xLFIA output was easily interpreted through a “yellow magenta cyan (YMC)” color code. The prospect of the YMC xLFIA was demonstrated by simultaneously detecting three major allergens in bakery products. Antibodies directed towards casein, ovalbumin, and hazelnut allergenic proteins were individually adsorbed onto metal nanoparticles to produce three differently colored specific probes. These were inserted in a LFIA comprising three lines, each responsive for one allergen. The trichromatic xLFIA was able to detect allergenic proteins at levels as low as 0.1 mg/l and enabled the easy identification of the allergens in commercial biscuits based on the color of the probes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, University of Turin, Via Giuria, 5, 10125, Turin, Italy

    Laura Anfossi, Fabio Di Nardo, Simone Cavalera, Cristina Giovannoli, Giulia Spano & Claudio Baggiani

  2. Department of Veterinary Science, University of Turin, Turin, Italy

    Alida Russo

  3. Centre for Analytical Chemistry, Department for Agrobiotechnology Tulln, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Konrad-Lorenz-Str. 20, 3430, Tulln, Austria

    Sabine Baumgartner & Kathrin Lauter

Authors
  1. Laura Anfossi
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  2. Fabio Di Nardo
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  3. Alida Russo
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Correspondence to Laura Anfossi.

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Published in the topical collection Nanoparticles for Bioanalysis with guest editors María Carmen Blanco-López and Montserrat Rivas

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Anfossi, L., Di Nardo, F., Russo, A. et al. Silver and gold nanoparticles as multi-chromatic lateral flow assay probes for the detection of food allergens. Anal Bioanal Chem 411, 1905–1913 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-018-1451-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-018-1451-6

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