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A test strip for ochratoxin A based on the use of aptamer-modified fluorescence upconversion nanoparticles

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Abstract

An aptamer-based test strip is described for visual and instrumental determination of the mycotoxin ochratoxin A (OTA). It is based on the use of NaYF4:Yb,Er upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) as a label for the aptamer and on the competition between OTA and its complementary sequence for an OTA-specific aptamer. To improve the analytical performance, the optical properties of the UCNPs, the fluidity of the UCNP-aptamer conjugate, and the migration rate on the nitrocellulose membranes were investigated. Under the optimal experimental conditions and by using a 980-nm laser, the relative fluorescence intensity (test line value/control line value) is proportional to the logarithm of the OTA concentration over a range from 5 to 100 ng·mL−1 (R2 = 0.9955). The limit of the detection is 1.86 ng·mL−1. This aptamer based flow assay can be performed within 15 min and has no serious cross-sensitivity to potentially interfering species. It was successfully applied to the determination of OTA in spiked wheat and beer samples.

An aptamer-based upconversion fluorescent strip based on the use of NaYF4:Yb,Er nanoparticles was developed for sensitive detection of Ochratoxin A. The limit of the detection was determined as 1.86 ng·mL−1. The assay can be performed within 15 min, indicating its great potential in point-of-care testing.

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Acknowledgements

This work was partially supported by Key Research and Development Program of Jiangsu Province BE2016306, National Natural Science Fund of China (NSFC 31772086), Project funded by China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2016 T90430), Project funded by Jiangsu Province Postdoctoral Science Foundation (1601087B, 1701097B), Young Elite Scientists Sponsorship Program by CAST (2017QNRC001) and Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (JUSRP21826).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China

    Shijia Wu & Zhouping Wang

  2. School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China

    Shijia Wu, Lihong Liu, Nuo Duan, Qianru Yu & Zhouping Wang

  3. School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China

    Shijia Wu

  4. China Rural Technology Development Center, Beijing, 100045, China

    Wenyue Wang

  5. School of Food and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing, 102488, China

    Wenyue Wang

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  1. Shijia Wu
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  2. Lihong Liu
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  3. Nuo Duan
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  4. Wenyue Wang
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  5. Qianru Yu
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  6. Zhouping Wang
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Correspondence to Nuo Duan or Zhouping Wang.

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Wu, S., Liu, L., Duan, N. et al. A test strip for ochratoxin A based on the use of aptamer-modified fluorescence upconversion nanoparticles. Microchim Acta 185, 497 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-018-3022-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-018-3022-0

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