Modified paramagnetic beads in a microfluidic system for the determination of zearalenone in feedstuffs samples

In this work, we have developed and characterised a novel microfluidic immunoassay methodology for rapid and sensitive quantification of ZEA in feedstuffs samples. The detection of ZEA was carried out using a competitive direct immunoassay method based on the use of anti-ZEA monoclonal antibodies immobilized on magnetic microspheres 3-aminopropyl-modified manipulated for an external remobilize magnets. The ZEA in feedstuffs sample is allowed to compete with ZEA-horseradish peroxidase (HPR) conjugated for the immobilized anti-ZEA antibody. The HPR, in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) catalyses the oxidation of 4-tert-butylcatechol (4-TBC) whose back electrochemical reduction was detected on gold electrode at 0.0 V. The calculated detection limits for electrochemical detection and ELISA procedure were 0.41 and 2.56 μg kg−1 respectively, the intra and inter-assay coefficients of variation were below 6.5% and the total assay time was 30 min. The microfluidic immunosensor showed higher sensitivity and lower detection limits than the standard ELISA method, which shows potential for detecting ZEA in foods and feeds diagnosis.