Magnetic Nanotag-Based Colorimetric/SERS Dual-Readout Immunochromatography for Ultrasensitive Detection of Clenbuterol Hydrochloride and Ractopamine in Food Samples

Direct and sensitive detection of multiple illegal additives in complex food samples is still a challenge in on-site detection. In this study, an ultrasensitive immunochromatographic assay (ICA) using magnetic Fe3O4@Au nanotags as a capture/detection difunctional tool was developed for the direct detection of beta 2-adrenoceptor agonists in real samples. The Fe3O4@Au tag is composed of a large magnetic core (similar to 160 nm), a rough Au nanoshell, dense surface-modified Raman molecules, and antibodies, which cannot only effectively enrich targets from complex solutions to reduce the matrix effects of food samples and improve detection sensitivity, but also provide strong colorimetric/surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) dual signals for ICA testing. The dual readout signals of the proposed ICA can meet the detection requirements in different environments. Specifically, the colorimetric signal allows for rapid visual detection of the analyte, and the SERS signal is used for the sensitive and quantitative detection modes. The proposed dual-signal ICA can achieve the simultaneous determination of two illegal additives, namely, clenbuterol hydrochloride and ractopamine. The detection limits for the two targets via colorimetric and SERS signals were down to ng mL(-1) and pg mL(-1) levels, respectively. Moreover, the proposed assay has demonstrated high accuracy and stability in real food samples.

Automated summary

In this study, an ultrasensitive immunochromatographic assay (ICA) using magnetic Fe3O4@Au nanotags as a capture/detection difunctional tool was developed for the direct detection of beta 2-adrenoceptor agonists in real samples. The proposed dual-signal ICA can achieve the simultaneous determination of two illegal additives, namely, clenbuterol hydrochloride and ractopamine, with high accuracy and stability in real food samples.