Enzymatic Sensor for Sterigmatocystin Detection and Feasibility Investigation of Predicting Aflatoxin B1 Contamination by Indicator

Abstract

1.1 Enzymatic sensory detection of sterigmatocystin The development of fast and sensitive sensor for mycotoxins’ detection has drawn a great attention in resent years (Prieto-Simom, B. et al., 2007). However, to construct antiinterference biosensor for the practical samples is still challenge. Sterigmatocystin, a biogenic precursor of aflatoxin B1, has been classified as group 2B by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Its chemical structure consists of a xanthone nucleus attached to bisfuran and it bears a close structural similar to aflatoxin B1 (Fig. 1) (Versilovskis et al., 2008). The toxicity of sterigmatocystin is primarily confined to the liver and kidney and closely correlated to the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma, gastric carcinoma and esophagus carcinoma (Purchase & van der Watt, 1970). Contamination of cereals with Aspergillus fungi refers to harmfulness, due to the potential of sterigmatocystin production by these fungi. Sterigmatocystin is similar to aflatoxin B1 both in the carcinogenicity and fluorescence excitability. While the fluorescence of sterigmatocystin is not so strong as aflatoxin B1 and the sterigmatocystin-antibody not commercially available, the detection of sterigmatocystin is harder or/and cost more. Several methods for the detection of sterigmatocystin have been established, including thinlayer chromatography (TLC), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), liquid