A Novel Electrochemical Immunosensor Based on Anti-IgY and PLA/PEG Nanofibrous Mats Used for Allergens Detection in Farinaceous Products

Abstract

The present study focuses on the first electrochemical immunosensor built with polymeric mats enriched with nanomaterials, targeting the dust mite protein, for the detection of allergens in flour sources with important implications in allergic reactions. As a proof-of-concept, we have used the Blo t 5 allergen from Blomia tropicalis (target) and established electrochemical parameters to recognize and detect the specific allergen using a polyclonal immunoglobulin (Ig) Y (probe). Detection was performed in a portable potentiostat (EmStat) using a graphite screen-printed electrode. For that, the nanofibrous mats of poly(lactic acid)/poly(ethylene glycol) (PLA/PEG), and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were placed in contact with the surface of the electrodes. The functionalization that occurs through the deposition of the polymer was induced through the passage of current. Subsequently, the modification was validated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) readings and ferri/ferrocyanide was used as a redox indicator in CV analyses. The novel immunosensor was able to discriminate between allergen-contaminated and uncontaminated farinaceous samples. The immunosensor displays high sensitivity detecting up to 50 μg ml−1 in the calibration curve with a linear response between 5 and 500 μg ml−1. The new biosensor shows great potential in the detection of farinaceous contaminants in laboratories, food factories and in the field.