Paper Authors and Title
Thasmin Shahjahan (Technological University Dublin), Furong Tian, Bilal Javed, “Characterisation and Optimisation of Gold and Silver Nanoparticle Anti-Zearalenone Antibody Conjugates for Use in Lateral Flow Immunochromatography Strips”
Abstract
Aflatoxins are poisonous secondary fungal metabolites produced particularly by Aspergillus species. They cause serious health problems in humans when introduced in the diet. Therefore, detection of aflatoxins is essential for the food industry to ensure the safety and quality of food products before their release to the market. Lateral flow immunochromatography assay (LFIA) is a simple technique that allows for the rapid on-site detection of aflatoxins eliminating the need for expensive equipment or experienced personnel. The aim of this study was to optimise the conditions of gold and silver nanoparticle anti-zearalenone antibody conjugates to enhance the shelf-life and performance of LFIA strips. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with diameters ranging from 10 to 110 nm in diameter were synthesized using the Turkevich-Frens method. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) ranging from 2.5 to 100 nm were synthesized using sodium borohydride as a reducing agent. The onset of AuNP and AgNP aggregation occurred at 150 mM and 80 mM NaCl concentration, respectively. Stable Au and Ag nanoparticle-antibody conjugates were achieved at 1.2 mM K2CO3 concentration. Optimal antibody concentrations of 4 µg/mL for AuNPs and 6 µg/mL for AgNPs were determined for maximal nanoparticle conjugation. The parameters measured and analysed for optimising nanoparticle-antibody conjugates include absorbance, optical density, particle size, zeta potential, and polydispersity index. These measurements provided insights into the influence of NaCl and pH on the stability and aggregation behaviour of the conjugates. Ultimately, these findings shed light on the interplay between NaCl, pH, and conjugate stability, contributing to enhanced LFIA performance for aflatoxin detection.
Poster
Download and view Thasmin Shahjahan’s poster.
Presentation
Download and view Thasmin Shahjahan’s slides.
Publications
For further information, see the following publications:
Shahjahan T, Javed B, Sharma V, Tian F. Overview of Various Components of Lateral-Flow Immunochromatography Assay for the Monitoring of Aflatoxin and Limit of Detection in Food Products: A Systematic Review. Chemosensors. 2023; 11(10):520. https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors11100520
Shahjahan T, Javed B, Sharma V, Tian F. pH and NaCl Optimisation to Improve the Stability of Gold and Silver Nanoparticles’ Anti-Zearalenone Antibody Conjugates for Immunochromatographic Assay. Methods and Protocols. 2023; 6(5):93. https://doi.org/10.3390/mps6050093