The project aims to develop appropriate functionalized sensor surfaces based on the combination of nanotechnologies, supramolecular chemistry, and material science to develop optimized electrochemical immunosensors for screening and monitoring food quality and safety indicators.
These will be achieved by creating a technological platform that allows the development of electrochemical and optical biosensors to analyze and monitor food matrices. These devices will be developed to optimize the communication between antibodies and the surface of the sensor.
The project aims to direct the agri-food sector towards an evolved and integrated scenario of systems for quality assurance and risk prevention.
The developed technological platform will be tested to realize an electrochemical immunosensor for the detection of one of the main classes of food contaminants: mycotoxins.
This research project aims to develop a technological platform capable of creating an expandable series of electrochemical biosensors, allowing end-users (i.e. agricultural producers and subjects involved in the quality control of agri-food products) to detect the concentration of relevant markers certifying the quality of the food products.
To this end, antibodies used as biotransducers will be selected from those available on the basis of their capacity to interact with Aflatoxins and Ochratoxins selectively.
Within the significant innovativeness of the project, the following aspects will be carried out: a) optimization of the sensitive biological elements and the coupling with the physical-chemical transducer using modified or implemented biotransducers and/or more efficient immobilization techniques; b) enhancement of biotransducer / sensor communication; c) definition of optimized sampling procedures; d) integration of the developed biosensors with a commercially available portable device.
Each aspect will be considered separately and then in combination to improve the characteristics of the biodevice.
This objective will be achieved thanks to a series of specific actions that should impact the scientific and technological level.
Scientific Impact 1: Current situation
Problems carrying out fast determinations of food contaminants, in particular concerning the presence of mycotoxins.
Proposed innovation
Speed up and simplification of analysis times and procedures.
Advantages
The speeding up of sampling and measurement procedures will make it possible to implement and develop a method for screening food samples, ensuring rapid intervention in food contamination to the benefit of consumers' health.
Scientific Impact 2: Current situation
The realization of biosensors for the determination of Mycotoxins is currently little exploited for some aspects inherent to the difficulty of ensuring the activity and stability of antibodies on the electrode surface and of transforming their biological response into a sufficiently sensitive signal, stability of the measuring device, adequate sensitivity and laboriousness of sampling processes.
Proposed innovation
Selection of the best electrode modified with supramolecular/nanostructured material to develop amperometric and impedimetric immunosensors. Evaluation of the most suitable biotransducers to be used in electrochemical devices for the measurement of selected markers.
Selection of the best immobilization technique to ensure adequate stability and correct orientation of the immobilized biotransducers, crucial for optimizing the detection process
Technological Impact 1: Current situation
The coupling of supramolecular chemistry, nanotechnologies, screen printed electrodes and antibodies must be evaluated.
Proposed innovation
Optimization of supramolecular chemistry modification of sensors surface, nanomaterial synthesis procedures to ensure a "compatible" environment for immobilized biotransducers.
Advantages
Availability of a technological platform for the modification of SPE electrodes modified with supramolecular/nanostructured material.
Technological Impact 2: Current situation
Limited availability of anaytical devices potentially integrable with portable devices.
Proposed innovation
Definition of a technological platform for developing electrochemical biosensors suitable for coupling with portable and autonomous reading devices.
Advantages
Availability of "smart" diagnostic systems designed to develop solutions for determining an extensive range of food safety markers.