A liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry confirmatory assay for the simultaneous determination of several tetracyclines in milk considering keto–enol tautomerism and epimerization phenomena

Excitation-depended fluorescence emission of boron-doped graphene quantum dot as an optical probe for detection of oxytetracycline in food and information encryption patterns

The boron-doped graphene quantum dot (HSE-GQD-B) was prepared by thermal pyrolysis of the mixture of citric acid, histidine, serine and ethylenediamine and boric acid. The resulting HSE-GQD-B is composed of tiny graphene sheets with an average sheet size of 4.2 ± 0.16 nm and exhibits an excitation-depended fluorescence emission behavior. The HSE-GQD-B produces the strongest blue fluorescence of 450 nm wavelength under the excitation of 365-nm ultraviolet light and the strongest yellow fluorescence of 550-nm wavelength under the excitation of 470-nm visible light. The interaction of HSE-GQD-B with oxytetracycline molecule induces a sensitive blue fluorescence quenching process. Based on this characteristic, a fluorescence method was established for optical detection of oxytetracycline. The analytical method offers a better sensitivity, selectivity, and repeatability compared with previously reported methods. The detection of oxytetracycline attains a wide linear range of 0.02-50 μM and a detection limit of 0.0067 μM. It has been successfully applied to fluorescence detection of oxytetracycline in food samples. In addition, the HSE-GQD-B was also used as a multicolor fluorescence probe for information encryption patterns.

Accurate determination of four tetracycline residues in chicken meat by isotope dilution-liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

An analytical method based on isotope dilution-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (ID-LC‒MS/MS) was developed to accurately determine four representative tetracyclines (tetracycline, chlortetracycline, doxycycline, and oxytetracycline) in chicken meat. Tetracyclines are known to have a great tendency for epimerization and keto-enol tautomerism, which often provoke major challenges in their determination. Since this isomerization was found to be unavoidable during the whole chain of the current analysis, the total content (µg kg^‒1) of individual tetracycline was quantified as a sum of each parent compound and its respective isomeric forms. Using this approach in combination with IDMS analysis, more consistent, accurate, and reproducible measurement results for the four tetracyclines in chicken meat were acquired. LC-MS/MS conditions and sample preparation processes were comprehensively optimized to minimize the chelating effect of tetracyclines and possible co-extracted interferences. Details of the sample preparation scheme, LC‒MS/MS detection, calculation equation, and method validation are described in this article. The method provided very good accuracy (97.7-102.6%) for all analytes across the concentration range of 10-200 µg kg^‒1, with relative standard deviations for intra-day and inter-day precision of less than 4%. The limits of quantification were below 0.2 µg kg^‒1, demonstrating the high sensitivity of the method. Furthermore, the measurement uncertainty was generally below 5.5%. Hence, the established method exhibits high-order metrological quality with superior performance over various existing methodologies. Moreover, this method can provide references for general food testing laboratories close to and far below the established maximum residue limits (100 µg kg^‒1) for animal muscle tissues.

Tetracyclines in pasteurized milk commercialized in São Paulo, Brazil: occurrence and dietary risk assessment based on single and combined exposure with polyether ionophores

Tetracyclines and polyether ionophores are veterinary drugs frequently used in animals reared for food production. Despite the benefits, residues can be harmful for human health if levels are higher than those considered safe. The aim of this study was to evaluate, by LC-MS/MS, tetracyclines residues in pasteurised milk samples marketed in São Paulo state, Brazil and estimate the exposure of the adult/adolescent/children population. Within the eight antibiotics monitored two were detected, tetracycline and 4-epitetracycline, found in 22.5% and 12.5% of the samples, respectively. Since the same samples had been previously tested for polyether ionophore residues, risk assessment based on dietary exposure to tetracyclines when considered individually and in combination with the ionophores was performed. The daily intakes were below the acceptable daily intake (ADI) for tetracycline. Considering the levels of monensin reported in a previous study, the combined exposure with tetracycline and 4-epi-tetracycline also indicated low potential health concerns.

A novel metal-organic frameworks composite-based label-free point-of-care quartz crystal microbalance aptasensing platform for tetracycline detection

A novel label-free point-of-care quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) aptasensing platform based on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) was fabricated for tetracycline (TC) detection. MOFs (HKUST-1) and AuNPs were modified onto the sensing interface of QCM sensor to enhance the sensing performance of the QCM aptasensor. TC aptamer with sulfhydryl group was fixed through Au-S bond. The recognition performance of the aptasensor was predicted and verified by the computer simulation. At the optimal conditions, the frequency change of the sensor was adopted for quantitative detection of TC. The prepared QCM aptasensor exhibited a wide linear range from 1 × 10^-10 g mL^-1 to 1 × 10^-5 g mL^-1 with low limit of detection (0.8 × 10^-11 g mL^-1). High sensitivity, good selectivity, acceptable recoveries (87.6-91.4%) in real samples were obtained. For the first time, MOFs were utilized in the construction of QCM aptasensing platform, providing a promising application way of MOFs in the QCM sensing.

Graphene oxide-regulated low-background aptasensor for the "turn on" detection of tetracycline

Tetracyclines (TC) are a common antibiotic for using in livestock breeding and healthcare; however, due to the inappropriate application of TCs, more than 75% of TCs are excreted and released into the environment in an active form through human and animal urine and feces, which results in high levels of TCs in the ecological system, causing adverse effects on the food safety and human health. Thus, the high-performance monitoring of TC pollution is necessary. In this work, a highly sensitive fluorescent aptasensor was developed that was based on graphene oxide (GO) regulation of low background signal and target-induced fluorescence restoration. In the absence of analyte, the DNA probe (TC aptamer) was adsorbed completely by GO and failed to enhance the fluorescence of SYBR gold (SG), thereby resulting in a low background signal. When the TC-included samples were added, the DNA probe formed an aptamer-TC complex, thereby separating from the surface of the GO and inducing the fluorescence of SG. Under optimal conditions, the proposed strategy could detect TC concentrations of less than 6.2 × 10^-3 ng mL^-1, which is four orders of magnitude better than the detection limit of the "turn off" mode (53.9511 ng mL^-1). Moreover, this aptasensor has been used to detect TC from milk samples and wastewater samples, and its satisfactory performances demonstrate that the proposed strategy can be applied in practice for TC monitor in food safety and environmental protection. Therefore, we believe that this work is meaningful in pollution monitoring, environment restoration and emergency treatment.

Electrochemically controlled solid phase microextraction based on a conductive polyaniline-graphene oxide nanocomposite for extraction of tetracyclines in milk and water

BACKGROUND

Tetracycline antibiotics are employed for human and animal health and for speeding up growth rates. However, their presence in food products and environmental waters has been a concern for some years. Therefore, a variety of sample preparation methods have been developed for the analysis of tetracycline residues in these matrices.

RESULTS

An electrochemically controlled solid phase microextraction based on a modified copper electrode with polyaniline/graphene oxide (PANI/GO) conductive nanocomposite was developed for the extraction of oxytetracycline, tetracycline and doxycycline before high-performance liquid chromatography-UV analysis. PANI/GO was synthesized by in situ chemical oxidative polymerization, characterized by scanning electron microscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and bound on the electrode using high purity conductive double-sided adhesive carbon glue. The significant factors affecting the performance of microextraction were investigated and optimized. Under the optimized conditions [sample, 15 mL; sorbent, 10 mg; pH, 3.0; electroextraction voltage, -0.9 V; electroextraction time, 20 min; eluent (MeOH/NH₃ ), 500 μL; and desorption time, 5 min], the limits of detection for target analytes were in the ranges 0.32-1.01 and 2.42-7.59 μg L^-1 in water and milk samples, respectively. The linear ranges were 1.06-750 μg L^-1 for water and 8.05-750 μg L^-1 for milk samples. The intra-day and inter-day precisions were 2.32-3.80 and 3.29-4.25, respectively. The method was applied to the determination of analytes in milk and water samples with different fat contents, and the recoveries were obtained in the range 71-104%.

CONCLUSION

The developed electro-microextraction method provides a facile, rapid, cost-effective, sensitive and efficient promising procedure for the extraction of antibiotics in complex matrices. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Paper-based analytical device for high-throughput monitoring tetracycline residue in milk

A low-cost and portable paper-based analytical device has been developed for high throughput and on-site monitoring TC residue in milk through visualized colorimetric reaction. The filtration and concentration effect induced by the porous nature of paper contribute to strengthen the color intensity, leading to quantitative and sensitive detection of tetracycline reaching 1 ppm detection limit, with the linear range of 1-100 ppm both in water and milk samples. The applicability was demonstrated by detection of TC in 18 different types of real milk samples with good recovery ranging from 88% to 113%. Furthermore, the dynamic degradation behavior of tetracycline was monitored through the device. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of colorimetric detection of tetracycline in milk using the paper-based device. This simple, fast, cost-effective (~$0.50 per device) and equipment-free paper-based platform provides a promising tool for future application in food and environmental safety.

Magnetic solid phase extraction based on graphene oxide/nanoscale zero-valent iron for the determination of tetracyclines in water and milk by using HPLC-MS/MS

A magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) based on graphene oxide/nanoscale zero-valent iron (GO/nZVI) coupled with HPLC-MS/MS was proposed for the determination of trace tetracycline antibiotics (TCs) in water and milk.

Evaluation of a rapid screening method for chemical contaminants of concern in four food-related matrices using QuEChERS extraction, UHPLC and high resolution mass spectrometry

A method combining QuEChERS extraction, ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography and full scan high resolution mass spectrometry was evaluated for its use in screening for chemical residues and contaminants in animal-related food matrices. The method was evaluated by analysis of multiple replicates of whole milk, muscle tissue, liver tissue and corn silage. Analytes tested included plant alkaloids, carbamate and organophosphate pesticides, and several types of veterinary drugs. A database containing the chemical formula for each analyte was used to calculate accurate mass-to-charge ratios for expected pseudo-molecular ions. This information, as well as retention times, was used to identify analytes. Of 118 compounds chosen for analysis, 86 were detectable in all fortified replicates of at least one matrix at levels ranging from 1.0 to 5000 ng/g. Variability of response, as measured in % relative standard deviation of peak areas over seven replicate fortified sample analyses, was found to differ among the classes of analytes, ranging from <10% to >100%. Retention times were stable and analytes were routinely detected at measured mass-to-charge ratios within 2 ppm of their theoretical mass-to-charge ratios. These results indicate that the combination of generic extraction and chromatographic procedures with full scan high resolution mass spectrometry can serve as a useful method for screening complex matrices.