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Aptamer based fluorometric β-lactoglobulin assay based on the use of magnetic nanoparticles and carbon dots

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Abstract

The authors describe a fluorometric aptamer based assay for detecting β-lactoglobulin by using carbon dots (C-dots) as a signal indicator. The aptamer was immoblized on magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles (MNPs), and the C-dots served as a label for the complementary oligonucleotide (cDNA). The assay is based on the hybridization that takes place between aptamer and cDNA. In the presence of β-lactoglobulin (β-LG), the aptamer preferentially binds to β-LG, and this leads to a partial release of the C-dots-cDNA into the solution. After magnetic separation, the supernatant of the solution contains the released C-dots-cDNA which are quantified by fluorometry, best under excitation/emission wavelengths of 354/447 nm. Under the optimal conditions, the fluorescence intensity is proportional to the logarithm of the β-LG concentration in the 0.25 to 50 ng mL−1 range, with a 37 pg mL−1 detection limit. The method was successfully applied to the determination of β-LG in hypoallergenic formulations, and the results demonstrated that this assay is a promising tool in food quality control. Conceivably, it also provides the opportunity for detection of other analytes.

Schematic of a novel aptamer based fluorometric β-lactoglobulin assay based on the use of magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles (MNPs) and carbon dots (C-dots). C-dots were used as a signal indicator and Fe3O4 MNPs acted as a magnetic separator. This assay exhibits high sensitivity and selectivity with a detection limit as low as 37 pg mL−1.

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Funding

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 61775099) and Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province (No. BK20171487).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of pharmacy, Nanjing medical university, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211166, People’s Republic of China

    Menglan Shi, Yao Cen, Muhammad Sohail, Guanhong Xu, Fangdi Wei, Yunsu Ma, Xiaoman Xu, Yujie Ma, Yueyue Song & Qin Hu

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  1. Menglan Shi
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  2. Yao Cen
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Correspondence to Qin Hu.

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Shi, M., Cen, Y., Sohail, M. et al. Aptamer based fluorometric β-lactoglobulin assay based on the use of magnetic nanoparticles and carbon dots. Microchim Acta 185, 40 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-017-2569-5

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