A reaction band that enables quick and easy detection and quantification of allergens in foods

It is estimated that about 520 million people worldwide are affected
by food allergies or hypersensitivity reactions.
These reactions occur
mainly through the consumption of foods containing trace amounts of allergens.
Therefore, it is crucial to identify and quantify foods before eating them, which is what the tests we have developed allow," says
Sergi Morais, professor at the Department of Chemistry at the University of Politècnica de València and researcher at the Interuniversity Institute for the Development of Molecular Recognition and Technology (IDM).

The prototype has been developed as a proof of concept for detecting both almond and peanut allergens and has been validated
in everyday commercial foods such as biscuits and energy bars.

Among its advantages, the researchers highlighted the reliability of the test, which contained multiple internal controls and calibrators integrated into a miniaturized array of 36 points
.
"With microarray technology, we can perform 36 analyses
in one step.
The exported information allows us to determine whether the result is true positive or negative
.
In addition, with an internal calibrator and a smartphone, we can quantify traces of allergens in food with high precision," says ángel Maquieira, full professor
at the Department of Chemistry at the University of Politècnica de València.

WHEN IT COMES TO THE EXTRACTION METHOD, THE UPV, UV AND CIBERER TEAMS EMPHASIZE ITS SIMPLICITY, WHICH ANYONE CAN PERFORM AT
ANY TIME.

"Current extraction methods include multiple steps and require complex equipment to grind, degrease, extract and purify allergens
.
Therefore, the analysis is carried out
in a qualified laboratory.
The aim is to disperse the analysis, just as COVID-19 testing does
.
We want anyone to be able to analyze food before consuming it," Sergi Morais added
.

The extraction method developed is based on the use of a portable grinder for single-step grinding and filtering of samples; Then add 5 ml of solution to extract the allergens, and once the sample is ready, soak the test strip in
the solution.
In just 5 minutes, you can get the result, which can be read
with your phone.

Amadeo Sena, a postdoctoral researcher at the Interuniversity Institute for Molecular Recognition and Technology Development (IDM), said: "With an estimated cost of 1 euro per test, the tests developed have great commercial potential, for example, for rapid in situ identification of allergens in the food sector and quantification of the potency
of allergen extracts used in allergy tests in the pharmaceutical sector.
"

Future developments

LOOKING AHEAD, THE UPV, UV, AND CIBERER TEAMS NOTE THAT GIVEN THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TEST STRIP, IT COULD EASILY BE ADAPTED TO OTHER ALLERGENS, AS THE TEAM HAS SPECIFIC ANTIBODIES
AGAINST A WIDE RANGE OF ALLERGENS AND BIOMARKERS.
"Our challenge is to develop a test
that simultaneously quantifies the 14 allergens that must be declared under Royal Decree 126/2015.
Biotecnología i Biomedical Institute (BIOTECMED) – Patricia Casino, researcher at Universitat de València and CIBERER, concluded
.