An Automated Magnetic Separation Device Coupled with a Fluorescent Biosensor for Detection of Antibiotic Residues
Abstract.Abstract. Highlights A practical magnetic separation device was designed, fabricated and evaluated for the enrofloxacin detection. Coupled with a biosensor, this device could automatically process a sample in 50 min. This device could finish the incubation and magnetic separation by using the pipette method. The device had the advantages of low-cost and feasibility for on-site detection. Antibiotic residues have been a continuing concern in food safety, raising a great issue in human health. For the purpose of rapid detection of antibiotics in unmanned operation, there is a report on an automated device which can capture and separate a target analyte based on immunomagnetic beads. This automated separation device is suitable for separating magnetic beads in the preprocessing step, with liquid transferring and magnetic enrichment functions. This device was evaluated with a biosensor to simplify the cumbersome pretreatment of enrofloxacin. In our experiments, ENR in water samples were used as a detection object, and the entire process can be completed in less than 50 min with the automated operation. The lower limit of detection reached 54 ng/mL (S/N=3). The fluorescent biosensor has been enhanced with this automated separation device for more sensitive rapid detection of antibiotics residues in the food supply chain and environment.