Deliverables Molecularly imprinted polymers for the analysis of food contaminants Highly selective and robust MIPs have been developed for (Beta)-lactam antibiotics and clenbuterol. The results of the study indicates that MIPs can be used to prepare both selective and general recognition matrices for either individual analytes (e.g. penicillin) or groups of compounds (e.g. the (Beta)-lactam antibiotic group). The MIPs developed have shown very good reproducibility and stability. Practical protocols for the use of the MIPs for the analysis of food samples have been developed and briefly evaluated. Specific MIP separation of clenbuterol from meat and kidney, and of the (Beta)-lactam antibiotic oxacillin from milk has been demonstrated. The MIP developed for clenbuterol has been successfully used to prepare a selective amperometric sensor. The responses from several such sensors were measured to be reproducible within 10%. The feasibility for an oxacillin MIP-based sensor has also been initiated. The feasibility for developing MIPs to selected macromolecules (e.g. staphylococcal enterotoxin) and whole microbial cells (e.g. Escherichia coli), and the development of procedures for scaling-up the generation of MIPs for pilot-scale production, have also been investigated. In each case, several promising approaches have been identified and the initial feasibility data produced, but it has not been possible to complete the generation of usable MIPs within the time-scale of the present study. Overall, MIPs offer several advantages to the agricultural food industry. Highly selective and robust recognition matrices produced in this way can be employed in various applications (e.g. affinity-separation, solid phase extraction, binding assays and sensor technology) where the analysis of diverse food is an issue. Given the advantages of MIPs over biological reagents, such as high stability, endurance and low cost of production, it is expected that products based on MIPs will reach the market in the near future. Exploitable results Development of a selective MIP based amperometric sensor for clenbuterol The MIP developed for clenbuterol has been successfully used to prepare a novel sensor comprising MIP as the selective element and amperometric detection as the transducer. The responses from several such sensors were measured to be reproducible within a variability of 10%. Extraction protocols for clenbuterol in liver have also been developed with subsequent detection using the sensor. Preliminary data on the development of a MIP based sensor for a ß-lactam antibiotic (i.e. oxacillin) has also been generated. Development of highly selective and robust MIPs for clenbuterol and ß-lactam antibiotics and their application to food analysis Highly selective and robust MIPs have been developed for ß-lactam antibiotics and clenbuterol. The results of the study indicate that MIPs can be used to prepare both selective and general recognition matrices for either individual analytes (e.g. penicillin) or groups of compounds (e.g. the ß-lactam antibiotic group). The MIPs developed have shown very good reproducibility and stability. Practical protocols for the use of the MIPs as solid phase selective absorbents for the analysis of food samples have been developed and briefly evaluated. Specific MIP-based separation of clenbuterol from meat and kidney, and of a ß-lactam antibiotic (oxacillin) from milk, has been shown. Independent evaluation of the clenbuterol MIPs by the European MICA Network Group also demonstrated good reproducible performance. Development of procedures for scaling up production of MIPs from academic "test-tube" production to industrial scale The ability to scale-up the laboratory-based MIP synthesis procedure to pilot-scale was successfully developed using a process of bead polymerization. This novel technology is currently under active patent consideration. Further optimization of the technique would be required prior to full-scale industrial production of MIPs. Evaluation of commercial test kits for beta-agonists, beta-lactam antibiotics and tetracyclines. A range of commercially available test kits for beta-agonists, beta-lactam antibiotics and tetracyclines were briefly evaluated to determine their suitability for combining with MIP-based separation procedures. The performance of the kits in terms of sensitivity and specificity were assessed using appropriate controls and food samples. The results of the studies have been published as Leatherhead Food RA Technical Notes. Searching for OpenAIRE data... There was an error trying to search data from OpenAIRE No results available
