Cost-effective sensor detects food toxin

A research team from Saudi Arabia and Egypt fabricated a sensor that can rapidly detect minute traces of aflatoxin B1 in food. The sensor is made of graphene nanosheets and gold nanostructures deposited on a modified glass substrate. Aflatoxin B1-specific antibodies are attached to its surface. 

The sensor generates electrical signals upon exposure to aflatoxin B1, which vary according to its concentration in a sample. It detected aflatoxin B1 in spiked peanut samples, suggesting it could be used to sense the toxin in real samples.    

The sensor was also able to effectively detect concentrations of aflatoxin B1 that are far below their permissible limit in foods, making it more sensitive than currently available aflatoxin sensors, says chemist Ismail Althagafi of Umm Al-Qura University, Saudi Arabia.  

The sensor also retained 96% of its original sensitivity when stored for ten days at 4°C. 

Next, the team plans to design a highly sensitive, cheap and selective sensor that can distinguish between aflatoxins in food and biological samples. 

Sign-up to receive our e-alert update every two weeks to keep up with everything new on the portal.