High Fundamental Frequency Quartz Crystal Microbalance (HFF-QCM) immunosensor for pesticide detection in honey. (October 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cervera-Chiner, Lourdes; Juan-Borrás, Marisol; March, Camen; Arnau, Antonio; Escriche, Isabel; Montoya, Ángel; Jiménez, Yolanda
• Is Part Of: Food control. Volume 92(2018)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 6
• Publication Date: 2018-10
• Subjects: High-fundamental-frequency QCM -- Piezoelectric immunosensors -- Carbaryl -- Pesticides -- Honey; Food -- Quality -- Periodicals; Food -- Analysis -- Periodicals; Food handling -- Periodicals; Food industry and trade -- Quality control -- Periodicals; Aliments -- Industrie et commerce -- Qualité -- Contrôle -- Périodiques; Aliments -- Qualité -- Périodiques; Aliments -- Analyse -- Périodiques; Hygiène alimentaire -- Périodiques; Food -- Analysis; Food handling; Food -- Quality; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 664.07
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2018.04.026
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0956-7135

Abstract

Abstract: Quantification of chemical residues in honey is a market requirement to ensure consumer safety. The most common method used to analyze these compounds is the LC/MS/MS methodology, which requires highly qualified technicians and a tedious pre-treatment of the sample. The honey-packaging industry needs cheaper and faster alternatives for routine control. HFF-QCM (High Fundamental Frequency Quartz Crystal Microbalance) sensors are becoming a good option due to their high sensitivity, fast detection and low cost, while avoiding complex sample pre-treatment. The HFF-QCM technology is based on piezoelectric sensors with frequencies in the range from several tenths of MHz to hundreds of MHz. In this work a 100 MHz HFF-QCM sensor was used in a monoclonal antibody-based competitive immunoassay for specific bio-recognition of carbaryl pesticide as testing contaminant. The work intends to validate the use of HFF-QCM technology, in comparison with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) technique, for the detection of contaminants in honey. For this purpose, the validation criteria required by SANCO 12571/2013 guidance document were considered. The precision and accuracy (recovery) of both methods were determined by comparison of 5 replicates at 4 different concentrations (from 0 to 100 μg/kg) using the same honey matrix. HFF-QCM technology showed good accuracy, with recovery percentages always between 110 and 120%. As regards to precision, HFF-QCM coefficients of variation (CV) were around 10% higher than those recommended by GC SANCO 12571/2013. HFF-QCM limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) were in the same order of magnitude as those for LC-MS/MS, which allows the analysis of carbaryl residues in honey under the established maximum residue limits (MRL), without sample pre-treatment. These results show that biosensors based on HFF-QCM technology has become a serious alternative to the traditional analytical techniques for food quality and safety applications.