On-site and consumer-friendly analysis still requires skill-intensive sample preparation methods. Here, we present a compact, inexpensive, prototype immunosensor combining sample preparation and on-chip reagent storage for multiplex allergen lateral flow immunosensing. The disposable homogenizer allows for the extraction and filtration of allergenic proteins from solid bakery products in 1 minute. The homogenizer connects with a unibody lab-on-a-chip (ULOC) microdevice, used to deliver precise volumes of sample extract to a reagent reservoir providing on-chip storage of carbon nanoparticle labeled antibodies. The handheld prototype allows for total homogenization, extraction, filtration, dilution, mixing, transport, and smartphone-based detection of hazelnut and peanut allergens in solid bakery products with limited operational complexity. The multiplex lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) detects allergens as low as 0.1 ppm and the system is already consumer-operable demonstrating its potential for future citizen science approaches. The designed system is suitable for a wide range of analytical applications outside of food safety, provided an LFIA is available.
Addressing target audiences and expressing needs
- To raise awareness and possibly influence policy
- Grants and Subsidies
- Business partners – SMEs, Entrepreneurs, Large Corporations
- Collaboration in future European (R)IA projects in order to develop other relevant applications on this platform.
- Collaboration with diagnostics companies in order to develop this prototype platform into a real product.
- Raise awareness to stakeholders and policy makers in the food chain in order to develop more efficient and cost-effective monitoring practices in food quality and safety testing.
- Public or private funding institutions
- EU and Member State Policy-makers
- Other Actors who can help us fulfil our market potential
R&D, Technology and Innovation aspects
Status: The prototype developed has been validated for allergen testing in cookies and for use by an untrained young (15 yrs) operator.
Next steps:
- R&D: App development for simplified readout and data transfer.
- Technology demonstration in the field after production of an initial series of 3D-printed adapters and consumables for allergen testing by non-experts in the field.
- Product development and validation in collaboration with a diagnostics company.
The reproducibility of allergen testing with smartphone readout has been demonstrated by us in multiple scientific experiments and peer-reviewed in the scientific literature.
Currently, food samples are administrated and transported from the sampling site to a regional control laboratory for screening and confirmatory analysis. When these samples turn out to be compliant, all these efforts were more or less a waste of efforts. By using smartphone-based on-site testing, only the most relevant (suspect or non-compliant) samples have to be administrated and transported to a laboratory for confirmation of the screening result. Meanwhile, suspect food can be already put aside without being consumed.
