ARS | Publication request: NOVEL SENSORS FOR DETECTING MYCOTOXINS IN FOODS

Submitted to: Journal of the Japanese Association of Mycotoxicology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: July 10, 2000
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: In attempting to improve upon existing screening assays for mycotoxins, a number of novel sensors have been developed. The sensors can be grouped into two categories: biosensors, which have been designed to detect the mycotoxins of interest, and imaging systems that have been designed to detect fungal contamination. The biosensor platforms that have been examined range from hand-held devices to benchtop instruments and use technology as diverse as fiber optics, liposomes, small particles (beads), surface plasmon resonance, and microcapillaries. Several of these devices show substantial promise as rapid, sensitive, methods for measuring mycotoxins. The imaging systems that have been developed have used principles as varied as color, fluorescence, and infrared spectroscopy and have been successfully used to indicate fungal contamination. The utility of the techniques for reducing toxin levels, by removal of product contaminated with fungi, has also been demonstrated. Given the advances in sensor technologies, studies by multiple laboratories to validate the newer methods are warranted.