New strategies in sample clean-up for mycotoxin analysis

So far, solid phase extraction, the use of MycoSep columns and immunoaffinity chromatography are the most common clean-up methods in mycotoxin analysis. Among these methods, immunoaffinity chromatography offers the highest selectivity and therefore the highest efficiency in removing interfering matrix compounds and enriching the analyte. Common immunoaffinity columns are prepared by covalently binding the antibodies to a solid support material which, due to the harsh conditions applied, frequently lowers their affinity for the antigen. The review article presents new strategies which have been developed to overcome this problem: sol-gel immunoaffinity chromatography, immuno-ultrafiltration, the use of aptamers as selective ligands and the application of molecularly imprinted polymers. The present paper covers the principles as well as the application of these approaches for sample clean-up in mycotoxin analysis.