A novel dual-flux immunochromatographic test strip based on luminescence resonance energy transfer for simultaneous detection of ochratoxin A and deoxynivalenol

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites of fungi, which seriously threaten human health. Among them, ochratoxin A (OTA) and deoxynivalenol (DON) have become the main factors that pollute cereals and by-products. In order to achieve simultaneous detection of OTA and DON quantitatively, a novel dual-flux immunochromatographic assay (dICA) was established. The dual-flux assay is based on upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) as fluorescence tags to label antigens and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) as fluorescence quencher to label monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). The intensity of the green fluorescence (540 nm) of UCNPs can be used as an analytical signal, indicating the formation of antigen-antibody immune complexes, thereby indicating the presence or absence of the target analyte. The intensity of the red fluorescence (660 nm) of UCNPs is not affected and can be used as a quality control signal, and the dual-flux bidirectional single-line labeling mode allows for the simultaneous detection of two different mycotoxins on two test lines. This work indicated that the developed dICA provided a sensitive, rapid, and reliable on-site simultaneous detection of multiple mycotoxins.

Automated summary

Mycotoxins, secondary metabolites of fungi, pose a serious threat to human health. A novel dual-flux immunochromatographic assay (dICA) using upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) was developed for simultaneous quantitative detection of ochratoxin A (OTA) and deoxynivalenol (DON). The dICA provided a sensitive, rapid, and reliable on-site simultaneous detection of multiple mycotoxins.