A team of European scientists have developed a portable screening tool for the detection of contaminants in oil, milk nuts and dried fruit. The system, which is based on biosensing, photonic and microfluidic concepts, is aimed at simplifying the analysis process, by providing instant results with a simple, low-cost tool.
The BIOFOS project is an initiative funded by the European Union under the 7th Framework Programme, which seeks to provide a commercial outlet to existing technology. At the moment, the device uses biosensors to detect up to seven contaminants present in the food sectors analysed: pesticides (phosmet) and metals (copper) in oil, antibiotics (aflatoxin M1 and penicillin) and lactose in milk and mycotoxins (aflatoxin B1, ochratoxin A) in nuts.
The system combines various functions of a Lab-on-a-Chip (LoC) system, in a small device that allows various tests to be performed, thus several contaminants can be detected instantly with a single instrument. The LoC also provides significant advantages over other methods used until now: it does not require dangerous reagents, the biosensor can be reused up to 30 times and the device requires no specialised personnel.
The project, which commenced at the end of 2013, is formed by a group of 10 partners from European institutes and companies that specialise in research and innovation in the fields of photonics, biochemistry and electronic engineering, among other technical specialities. The IRTA participates as an expert in the definition of the product for end-users, facilitating the connection between scientific research and industry, as well as the validation of the method at analytical level. It is expected that a prototype will be ready by 2016 to prepare for the BIOFOS system product launch.
The flexibility offered by the BIOFOS system can help to improve food safety, providing control of contaminants throughout the entire production process, especially in the buying and selling or raw materials and in the transforming industries.
More information can be found on the project website: www.ict-biofos.eu
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