.jpg)
DNA-miniaturized sensors array gold-chip for
Aflatoxin and Ara h allergen simultaneous electrochemical detection for food safety management
DNASens4SafeFood
" This work was supported by a grant of Romanian Ministry of Education and Research, CNCS - UEFISCDI, project number PN-III-P1-1.1-PD-2019-0631, within PNCDI III "
Abstract
Nowadays, foodborne illnesses and allergies have become a global menace on public health. According to World Health Organization (WHO) there are four leading causes of foodborne diseases: the presence of viruses, harmful bacteria, parasites or chemicals. The latter is further categorised into aflatoxins, arsenic, cassava cyanide, peanut allergens and dioxins.
Moreover, WHO identified the “groups of chemicals and toxins that are of highest priority in estimating the burden of foodborne disease” as there are no proper monitoring systems yet developed. Food contaminants and allergens affect the health status and represent possible threats for both humans and animals being identified as severe food safety hazards; therefore, their careful management in food industries and food control agencies is of high importance to ensure controlled food safety management systems and thereby safe health strategies.
The main objective of DNASens4SafeFood project consists in facilitating the determination of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1, mycotoxin) and Ara h1 (allergen) by sensitive and selective electrochemical detection of their concentrations from different food products, in order to diminish the occurrence of food-induced diseases and allergic symptoms among sensitized subjects and thus improve their life-quality.
The originality of the project consists in the development of DNA-miniaturized sensors array gold-chip (32-electrode/chip) which is portable, inexpensive and non-toxic to be used as a tool with multiplexing capabilities for the simultaneous detection of low concentrations (ng/L) of AFB1 and Ara h1 for the on-site real-time analysis.
Thus, the development of an easy-to-use, fast and accurate device is fundamental to prevent food safety hazards caused by the consumption of unsafe food products which can lead to development of hepatic, cancerous, immunosuppressive or neurological disease.
The Team
Dr. Oana Hosu, assistant professor PhD carried out her PhD studies in the “Iuliu Haţieganu” UMF, Cluj-Napoca, Romania in electroanalytical chemistry, in particular new electrochemical sensor and biosensor platforms for application to important analytes of biological significance.
She received training in several different laboratories (Portugal, France, Italy, Germany and Spain) and completed her PhD in September 2017.
The research activity realised in the period of 2014-2019 (PhD - Post-Doc) has led to an impressive number of 21 articles out of 26 articles in international peer-reviewed journals, 11 chapters edited by national and international publishers. She has been involved in several research grants (4 as principal investigator and 8 as member).
Project manager
She won the "Ion Baciu" 2018 Award of the UMFIH Cluj-Napoca for the PhD thesis with the highest overall Impact Factor (29.616) outscoring all PhD Thesis defended by then at UMF.
At international level, she won numerous prizes such as the ISE Travel Award 2018 for Young Electrochemists and 3 awards for the best poster/presentation in conferences as Journées d'Electrochimie 2017 (Bordeaux, France), the 19th International Symposium and Summer School on Bioanalysis 2019 (Suior, Romania) and the 25th International Symposium on Bioelectrochemistry and Bioenergetics of the BES conference 2019 (Elsevier Poster Award, Limerick, Ireland).
BrainMap: Oana Alexandra HOSU STANCIOIU (U-1700-037M-6614)
Researchgate: Oana Alexandra Hosu Stancioiu
Prof. Dr. Cecilia Victoria Cristea is one of the youngest Professors of the Analytical Chemistry Department from the Faculty of Pharmacy, "Iuliu Hațieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca.
She has two degrees: one in Chemistry in 1997 from Babes-Bolyai University, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Cluj-Napoca and one degree in Pharmacy from UMFIH Cluj-Napoca.
After her Master of Science in Applied Electrochemistry from Babes Bolyai University, she obtained her Ph.D. in Chemistry at the University of Rennes I, France and Babes Bolyai University in 2003 and in June 2015 she defended her habilitation thesis.
Project mentor
She joined the UMFIH as Assistant Professor in 2002 and since 2016 she is Full Professor of Analytical Chemistry. Since then she supervised more than 30 bachelor theses and 7 PhD theses.
She has more than 15 years of experience primarily focused on optical and electrochemical sensors for applications in biomedical, pharmaceutical and environmental field.
She has been involved in several research grants (17 as principal investigator and over 30 as member). Her activity has led to more than 120 publications (h-index 22) in international peer reviewed journals, 19 chapters, 3 patents, and several invited lectures in international congresses.
BrainMap: Cecilia Victoria CRISTEA (U-1700-035U-3814)
Researchgate: Cecilia Victoria Cristea
REsults
Papers
1. Magdolna Casian*, Oana Hosu-Stancioiu*, Despina Ciobanu, Daniela Olaru, Cecilia Cristea, Electrochemically assisted DNA and thioaromatic assembly as sensing and antifouling interface for food allergens. Microchimica Acta 2024, 191, 97, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-023-06146-7 (IF 5.3).
2. Despina Ciobanu*, Oana Hosu-Stancioiu*, Gheorghe Melinte, Flavia Ognean, Ioan Simon, Cecilia Cristea, Recent Progress of Electrochemical Aptasensors toward AFB1 Detection (2018–2023), Biosensors 2024, 14(1), 7, https://doi.org/10.3390/bios14010007 (IF 4.9).
3. Oana Hosu*, Gheorghe Melinte*, Geanina Ștefan, Magdolna Casian, Cecilia Cristea, Towards selective tetracycline recognition in wastewater based on gold nanovoids@aptamer sensing, Electrochimica Acta 2023, 460, 142556, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2023.142556 (IF 5.5).
4. Gheorghe Melinte, Oana Hosu, Cecilia Cristea, Giovanna Marrazza, Ara h1 peanut allergen detection using a labelled electrochemical aptasensor based on GO-COOH@bimetallic composite platform, Food Chemistry (2023), 400, 134074 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2022.134074 (IF 8.5).
5. Gheorghe Melinte*, Oana Hosu*, Cecilia Cristea, Giovanna Marrazza, DNA sensing technology a useful food scanning tool, Trends in Analytical Chemistry 2022, 154, 116679, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trac.2022.116679. (IF 14.908).
6. Gheorghe Melinte, Oana Hosu, Geanina Ștefan, Diana Bogdan, Cecilia Cristea, Giovanna Marrazza, Poly-L-Lysine@gold nanostructured hybrid platform for Lysozyme aptamer sandwich-based detection, Electrochimica Acta, 2022, 403, 139718, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2021.139718 (IF 7.336).
7. Adrian Blidar*, Oana Hosu*, Bogdan Feier, Geanina Stefan, Diana Bogdan, Cecilia Cristea, Gold-based nanostructured platforms for oxytetracycline detection from milk by a “signal-on” aptasensing approach, Food Chemistry, 131127, 2021/9/14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.131127 . (IF 7.514) (*equal contribution).
8. Geanina Stefan*, Oana Hosu*, Karolien De Wael, María Jesús Lobo-Castañón, Cecilia Cristea, Aptamers in Biomedicine: Selection Strategies and Recent Advances, Electrochimica Acta, 376 (2021) 137994. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2021.137994 (IF 6.215). (*equal contribution).
9. Mihaela Tertis, Oana Hosu, Bogdan Feier, Andreea Cernat, Anca Florea, Cecilia Cristea, Electrochemical peptide-based sensors for foodborne pathogens detection, Molecules, 26 (2021) 3200. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26113200. (IF 4.411)
10. Cecilia Cristea, Oana Hosu, Bogdan Feier, Mihaela Tertis, Electroanalytical methods for food safety and quality control assessment, 7th Workshop: Specific Methods For Food Safety And Quality, Publisher Vinča Institute Of Nuclear Sciences National Institute of the Republic of Serbia Vinča - Belgrade, Serbia, ISBN 978-86-7306-163-4.
Chapters
1. Alexandra Pusta, Magdolna Casian, Oana Hosu, Mihaela Tertis, Cecilia Cristea, Microdevice-based aptamer sensors in Aptamers Engineered Nanocarriers for Cancer Therapy, Elsevier, 2023/01/27, p. 367-396, ISBN 978-0-323-85881-6, https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-85881-6.00006-3
2. Bogdan Feier, Andreea Cernat, Gheorghe Melinte, Geanina Stefan, Cecilia Cristea, Oana Hosu, Magnetic hybrid nanomaterials for biosensors in Nanosensors for Smart Agriculture, Elsevier, 2022/01/14, p. 81-115, ISBN 978-0-12-824554-5, https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-824554-5.00017-3.
Conferences
1. Magdolna Casian, Oana Hosu-Stancioiu, Despina Ciobanu, Daniela Olaru, Cecilia Cristea. Fast and specific disposable electrochemical aptasensor for Ara h1 peanut allergen monitoring. 19th International Conference on Electroanalysis ESEAC 2024, Ulm, Germany, 23rd – 26th of July 2024, poster presentation.
2. Magdolna Casian, Oana Hosu-Stancioiu, Despina Ciobanu, Daniela Olaru, Cecilia Cristea. Mixed aptamer and thioaromatic coating as antifouling and specific interface for electrochemical assisted monitoring of food allergy. 11th International Workshop on Surface Modification of Chemical and Biochemical Sensing, 3rd - 7th of November 2023, Łochów, Poland, poster presentation - Audience Award for best poster presentation.
3. Despina Ciobanu, Magdolna Casian, Oana Hosu-Stancioiu, Cecilia Cristea. DNA based impedimetric biosensor for Ara h1 protein detection from peanuts. National Congress of the Pharmaceutical Students from Romania. 26th – 30th of April 2023, Bucharest, oral presentation – 1st place.
4. Magdolna Casian, Oana Hosu-Stancioiu, Despina Ciobanu, Daniela Olaru, Cecilia Cristea. Label-free aptamer-based biosensor for the detection of peanut allergy-inducing protein Ara h1. "Iuliu Hațieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca University Days, 5th – 9th of December 2022, Cluj Napoca, Romania, fundamental sciences session, poster presentation - Best poster award 2nd place.
5. Oana Hosu, Gheorghe Melinte, Magdolna Casian, Flavia Ognean, Daniela Olaru, Cecilia Cristea, Assessment of food contaminants by functional acid electrochemical sensors, Matrafured 2022 International conference on Chemical Sensors, 12-17 June 2022, Visegrad, Hungary (Poster presentation).
6. Gheorghe Melinte, Oana Hosu, Giovanna Marrazza, Cecilia Cristea, Electrochemical platforms for allergens aptasensing, Matrafured 2022 International conference on Chemical Sensors, 12-17 June 2022, Visegrad, Hungary (Poster presentation).
7. Gheorghe Melinte, Oana Hosu, Cecilia Cristea, Giovanna Marrazza, Development of an electrochemical platform for selective Ara h1 allergen detection. 2nd International Electronic Conference on Biosensors, 14-18 February 2022 (online) (Poster presentation).
8. Gheorghe Melinte, Oana Hosu, Cecilia Cristea, Giovanna Marrazza, Comparison of two electrochemical platforms for selective Ara h1 allergen detection. XXI Conferenza Nazionale Sensori e Microsistemi (AISEM 2022), 10-11 February 2022 (online) (Oral presentation).
9. Geanina Stefan, Oana Hosu, Noemí de-los-Santos-Álvarez, María Jesús Lobo Castañón, Cecilia Cristea, Aptamer selection through magnetic beads-based selex technology for glycopeptide antibiotic, The 1st International Electronic Conference on Biosensors (IECB 2020), online, 2-17 November 2020 (Poster presentation).
10. Geanina Ștefan, Oana Hosu, María Jesús Lobo Castañón, Noemí de-los-Santos-Álvarez, Cecilia Cristea, The increasing issue of antibiotic resistance: selection of a new aptamer for a glycopeptide antibiotic, “8th International INSOAP Symposium on Aptamers”, 14-15 April 2021 Oxford, UK, online (Poster presentation).
11. Geanina Ștefan, Oana Hosu, María Jesús Lobo Castañón, Noemí de-los-Santos-Álvarez, Cecilia Cristea, Aptamer selection for vancomycin using magnetic beads-based Selex technology, “XXVIth International Symposium on Bioelectrochemistry and Bioenergetics of the Bioelectrochemical Society”, 9-13 May 2021 Cluj-Napoca, Romania, online (Poster presentation).
12. Geanina Ștefan, Oana Hosu, María Jesús Lobo Castañón, Noemí de-los-Santos-Álvarez, Cecilia Cristea, Aptamer selection for a glycopeptide antibiotic using innovative magnetic beads-based SELEX technology, “Zilele Universității de Medicină și Farmacie” (ZUMF), 10-11 December 2020, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, online (Poster presentation).
13. Gheorghe Melinte, Oana Hosu, Geanina Ștefan, Cecilia Cristea, Giovanna Marrazza: Gold nanostructured platform for lysozyme specific detection. 3rd European Biosensors Symposium, 9-12 March 2021, online (Poster presentation).
14. Gheorghe Melinte, Oana Hosu, Andreea Cernat, Geanina Ștefan, Cecilia Cristea, Giovanna Marrazza: Polymer and Gold Structure Electrochemical Platforms for Biomedical and Environmental Applications. XXVIth International Symposium on Bioelectrochemistry and Bioenergetics, 9-13 May 2021 Cluj-Napoca, Romania, online (Oral presentation).
15. Cecilia Cristea, Gheorghe Melinte, Magdolna Casian, Wolfgang Schuhmann, Oana Hosu, Assessment of Food Contaminants at Gold-Chip Biosensors, 72nd Annual Meeting of the International Society of Electrochemistry (ISE 2021), 29 August - 3 September 2021, Jeju, Korea online (Poster presentation).
16. Oana Hosu, Gheorghe Melinte, Flavia Ognean, Magdolna Casian, Wolfgang Schuhmann, Cecilia Cristea, Gold-Chips Based Biosensors for Aflatoxin B1, 10th International Workshop on Surface Modification for Chemical and Biochemical Sensing 2021 (SMCBS2021), 5-9 November 2021, Poland – online (Poster presentation).
17. Oana Hosu, Gheorghe Melinte, Flavia Ognean, Magdolna Casian, Cecilia Cristea, Gold-Chip Biosensors for the Assessment of Food Contaminants, “Zilele Universității de Medicină și Farmacie” (ZUMF), 10-11 December 2021, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, online (Poster presentation).