Development of an aptamer-based SPR-biosensor for the determination of kanamycin residues in foods

A biosensor in which an affinity reaction occurs in the sensitive microzone through the use of specific aptamers to determine kanamycin residues in agri-food samples has been developed. It is an irreversible and continuous flow aptameric biosensor (aptasensor) in which the signal variations are monitored by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) measurements based on the specific interaction of the aptamer with the antibiotic. The signal variation is proportional to the analyte concentration. Graphene is known for efficient binding of molecules with its is-electron system, so a monolayer of graphene prepared from chemical vapor deposition (CVD) has been compared to a multilayer of graphene made from reduced graphene oxide (rGO) for immobilization of the aptamer on the gold surface of the physicochemical transducer. The best results have been obtained with CVD graphene. The dynamic range was between 1 and 100 mmol L-1 of kanamycin concentration (r(2) = 0.9981, n = 7, r = 4), with a limit of detection of 285 nmol L-1 and a sampling frequency of 6 h(-1). The precision, expressed as relative standard deviation (RSD%), was established in the range of 1.49 and 3.89%, calculated for 1, 10, and 50 mmol L-1. The selectivity was studied applying the described method to determine other antibiotics, obtaining no significant difference in the analytical signal. The method was applied to determine kanamycin residues in milk samples with recovery values ranging between 90 and 96%. (C) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

A biosensor utilizing specific aptamers in a sensitive microzone for affinity reaction to detect kanamycin residues in agri-food samples has been developed. The sensor, based on SPR measurements and utilizing CVD graphene for immobilization of aptamers, showed excellent performance with a detection limit of 285 nmol L-1. The method demonstrated good recovery values and selectivity when applied to milk samples.