SYNTHESISING FUNCTIONALISED MAGNETIC NANOPARTICLES COUPLED WITH HPLC FOR RAPID QUANTIFICATION OF CHEMICAL HAZARDS AND FOOD TOXINS IN FOOD MATRICES

Abstract

Chemical hazards in foods such as pesticides, mycotoxins and illegal adulterants can lead to health problems. This study focused on developing sensitive detection techniques using functionalised magnetic nanoparticles to help us detect these hazards in complex food matrices. Different functionalised magnetic nanoparticles including polymer coated, alkyl functionalised and antibody grafted magnetic nanoparticles were synthesised and characterised. And novel detection techniques were developed for the detection of pyrethroids, Sudan dyes and aflatoxin B1 in various food matrices, respectively. The self-prepared magnetic nanoparticles were used as adsorbents and can be separated from the sample matrices easily and rapidly using a permanent magnet, while the usage of large amount of organic solvents was avoided. The present study offers us new approaches for detecting chemical hazards in foods with higher sensitivity at lower cost, which will better protect us from consuming foods which are not safe.