Aflatoxin Detoxification in Humans Laboratory, Field and Clinical Perspectives

Immunoaffinity column clean-up for the high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, G2, M1 and Q1 in urine

A method for the determination of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, G2, M1 and Q1 in human urine has been developed. The 10-ml urine samples were automatically cleaned up on immunoaffinity columns and analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), including post-column derivatization with bromine and fluorescence detection. Average aflatoxin recoveries were: B1 103%, B2 106%, G1 98% and G2 96% in the range 6.8-73 pg/ml of urine and M1 103% and Q1 100% in the range 18-97 pg/ml of urine. The relative standard deviations were all between 1% and 21%. The determination limits of aflatoxins in urine were 6.8 pg/ml for B1, B2, G1 and G2 and 18 pg/ml for M1 and Q1.

Determination of aflatoxin Q1 in urine by automated immunoaffinity column clean-up and liquid chromatography

A liquid chromatographic system with an automated clean-up procedure for aflatoxin Q1 in human urine is described. The samples were cleaned up by using immunoaffinity columns originally designed for aflatoxin M1. The chromatographic system was a C18 column with an acidic mobile phase of acetonitrile-water containing potassium bromide. Fluorescence detection (365/440 nm) of aflatoxin Q1 was enhanced by addition of bromine, using post-column derivatization, which was studied by factorial designs. Average recovery of aflatoxin Q1 in spiked 10-ml urine samples was 88% (R.S.D. = 6.4%) at a level of 50 pg/ml. The determination limit was 49.5 pg/ml urine.

Automated sample clean-up with solid-phase extraction for the determination of aflatoxins in urine by liquid chromatography

An automated extraction and clean-up procedure was developed for the determination of aflatoxins in human urine at the 50 pg/ml level. Aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2 are captured on C2 extraction columns and simultaneously cleaned up with the aid of a robotic system. The processed samples are analysed by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Fluorescence detection was enhanced for aflatoxins B1 and G1 using factorial design optimization of the post-column reactor. Silylation of the glass vials used in the robotic system was of the utmost importance. With non-silylated glass vials, up to 75% of the analytes were lost. Average aflatoxin recoveries were B1 95%, B2 90%, G1 93% and G2 89%.