Impedimetric sensing of the immuno-enzymatic reaction of gliadin with a collagen-modified electrode

A label-free aptamer-based colorimetric biosensor for rapid gliadin detection in foods: a focus on pasta, bread and cookies

Despite numerous advancements in gluten detection, a substantial need remains for innovative, cost-effective, in situ methods that can be employed without complex analytical instruments. Addressing this demand, this study introduces a pioneering label-free colorimetric biosensor for the in situ detection of gliadin, a major component of gluten, which is a prevalent trigger of food allergies. Our novel approach employs the strategic coating of gold nanoparticles (AuNP) with gliadin-specific aptamers. In the absence of gliadin, these aptamers stably disperse AuNP, preventing their aggregation. However, upon the introduction of gliadin and in the presence of sodium chloride, AuNP aggregate, yielding a measurable colorimetric signal that facilitates the precise quantification of gliadin. Under rigorously optimized conditions, this AuNP/aptamer-based colorimetric biosensor demonstrated exceptional sensitivity and selectivity, with a detection limit of 32.1 ng mL-1 and a linear response range of 0-300 ng mL-1. Critically, the sensor maintained reliable performance when applied to real-world food samples, including gluten-free bread, cookies, and pasta. Due to its simplicity, selectivity, speed, and cost-effectiveness, this assay represents a significant advancement over current gluten detection methods. Moreover, the developed AuNP/aptamer-based colorimetric biosensor design holds promising potential for adaptation to detect other food allergens or protein toxins through selective aptamer modifications.

Recent Advances in Electrochemical Sensing Strategies for Food Allergen Detection

Food allergy has been indicated as the most frequent adverse reaction to food ingredients over the past few years. Since the only way to avoid the occurrence of allergic phenomena is to eliminate allergenic foods, it is essential to have complete and accurate information on the components of foodstuff. In this framework, it is mandatory and crucial to provide fast, cost-effective, affordable, and reliable analysis methods for the screening of specific allergen content in food products. This review reports the research advancements concerning food allergen detection, involving electrochemical biosensors. It focuses on the sensing strategies evidencing different types of recognition elements such as antibodies, nucleic acids, and cells, among others, the nanomaterial role, the several electrochemical techniques involved and last, but not least, the ad hoc electrodic surface modification approaches. Moreover, a selection of the most recent electrochemical sensors for allergen detection are reported and critically analyzed in terms of the sensors’ analytical performances. Finally, advantages, limitations, and potentialities for practical applications of electrochemical biosensors for allergens are discussed.

Potential use of plant-based by-products and waste to improve the quality of gluten-free foods

The food industry generates a large amount of waste and by-products, the disposal of which has a negative impact on the environment and the economy. Plant-based waste and by-products are rich in bioactive compounds such as dietary fiber, proteins, essential fatty acids, antioxidant compounds, vitamin, and minerals, which can be exploited to reduce the nutritional deficiencies of gluten-free products. The latter are known to be rich in fats and carbohydrates but lacking in bioactive compounds; the absence of gluten also has a negative effect on textural and sensory properties. Several attempts have been made to improve the quality of gluten-free products using alternative flours and additives, or by adopting innovative technologies. The exploitation of plant-based by-products would represent a chance to improve both the nutritional profile and the overall quality of gluten-free foods by further enhancing the sustainability of the agri-food system. After examining in detail the composition of plant-based by-products and waste, the objective of this review was to provide an overview of the effects of their inclusion on the quality of gluten-free products (bread, pasta, cake/muffins, biscuits and snacks). The advantages and drawbacks regarding the physical, sensory, and nutritional properties were critically evaluated. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

An Effective Label-Free Electrochemical Aptasensor Based on Gold Nanoparticles for Gluten Detection

Nanomaterials can be used to modify electrodes and improve the conductivity and the performance of electrochemical sensors. Among various nanomaterials, gold-based nanostructures have been used as an anchoring platform for the functionalization of biosensor surfaces. One of the main advantages of using gold for the modification of electrodes is its great affinity for thiol-containing molecules, such as proteins, forming a strong Au-S bond. In this work, we present an impedimetric biosensor based on gold nanoparticles and a truncated aptamer for the quantification of gluten in hydrolyzed matrices such as beer and soy sauce. A good relationship between the R_ct values and PWG-Gliadin concentration was found in the range between 0.1–1 mg L⁻¹ of gliadin (corresponding to 0.2–2 mg L⁻¹ of gluten) with a limit of detection of 0.05 mg L⁻¹ of gliadin (corresponding to 0.1 mg L⁻¹ of gluten). The label-free assay was also successfully applied for the determination of real food samples.

Paper-based aptamer-antibody biosensor for gluten detection in a deep eutectic solvent (DES)

Paper has been widely employed as cheap material for the development of a great number of sensors such as pregnancy tests, strips to measure blood sugar, and COVID-19 rapid tests. The need for new low-cost analytical devices is growing, and consequently the use of these platforms will be extended to different assays, both for the final consumer and within laboratories. This work describes a paper-based electrochemical sensing platform that uses a paper disc conveniently modified with recognition molecules and a screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) to achieve the detection of gluten in a deep eutectic solvent (DES). This is the first method coupling a paper biosensor based on aptamers and antibodies with the DES ethaline. Ethaline proved to be an excellent extraction medium allowing the determination of very low gluten concentrations. The biosensor is appropriate for the determination of gluten with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.2 mg L⁻¹ of sample; it can detect gluten extracted in DES with a dynamic range between 0.2 and 20 mg L⁻¹ and an intra-assay coefficient of 10.69%. This approach can be of great interest for highly gluten-sensitive people, who suffer from ingestion of gluten quantities well below the legal limit, which is 20 parts per million in foods labeled gluten-free and for which highly sensitive devices are essential.

Cutting-Edge Advances in Electrochemical Affinity Biosensing at Different Molecular Level of Emerging Food Allergens and Adulterants

The presence of allergens and adulterants in food, which represents a real threat to sensitized people and a loss of consumer confidence, is one of the main current problems facing society. The detection of allergens and adulterants in food, mainly at the genetic level (characteristic fragments of genes that encode their expression) or at functional level (protein biomarkers) is a complex task due to the natural interference of the matrix and the low concentration at which they are present. Methods for the analysis of allergens are mainly divided into immunological and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)-based assays. In recent years, electrochemical affinity biosensors, including immunosensors and biosensors based on synthetic sequences of DNA or ribonucleic acid (RNA), linear, aptameric, peptide or switch-based probes, are gaining special importance in this field because they have proved to be competitive with the methods commonly used in terms of simplicity, test time and applicability in different environments. These unique features make them highly promising analytical tools for routine determination of allergens and food adulterations at the point of care. This review article discusses the most significant trends and developments in electrochemical affinity biosensing in this field over the past two years as well as the challenges and future prospects for this technology.

Micropipette Tip-Based Immunoassay with Electrochemical Detection of Antitissue Transglutaminase to Diagnose Celiac Disease Using Staples and a Paper-Based Platform

In this work, 1-200 μL polypropylene micropipette tips were used as platforms for performing immunoassays after converting their inner surfaces on a capture zone for the analyte of interest. We have used a micropipette-tip immunoelectroanalytical platform for the detection of antitissue transglutaminase (IgA), the main biomarker for celiac disease. Modification of the tip wall with poly-l-lysine allowed adsorption of tissue transglutaminase (tTG), which will capture later anti-tTG (IgA) antibodies developed in celiac-affected people. A sandwich-type format was followed, incubating simultaneously the analyte and the detection antibody, labeled with horseradish peroxidase. With this new application for an extremely common lab material, we can perform quantitative analysis by dispensing the liquid into a low-cost and miniaturized staple-based paper electrochemical platform. The analytical signal was the reduction of the enzymatically oxidized substrate, recorded chronoamperometrically (i-t curve). The intensity of the current obtained at a fixed time after the application of the cathodic potential followed a linear relationship with anti-tTG (IgA) concentration. The relative standard deviation obtained for immunoassays performed in different tips indicates the adequate precision of this new methodology, which is very promising for decentralized analysis. Negative and positive controls produced results that were in accordance with those obtained with spectrophotometric enzyme linked-immunosorbent assays.