Radiotracer studies to isolate in-house receptors from poultry liver for multi-chemical hazard analysis in selected food and feed

Abstract

In-house receptors (IHRs) were isolated from non-immunized poultry liver to analyze selected contaminants and residues in targeted food and feed using ¹⁴C- and ³H-labeled radiotracers. Matrix (2 g) was homogenized and centrifuged with the resultant pellet used as IHRs. These were characterized for total protein contents (6.1 mg mL⁻¹) and compared with commercial receptors for aflatoxins (0.28 mg tablet⁻¹) and chloramphenicol (0.12 mg tablet⁻¹). Gel electrophoresis of the IHRs showed a mixture of polypeptides—an important attribute for multi-residues analysis—compared with commercial receptors that presented specific protein bands at 65 kDa (chloramphenicol) and 70 kDa (aflatoxins). The inhibition index of IHRs for aflatoxins B1 and B2 in wheat and bovine feed and chloramphenicol in bovine tissue at, above, and below maximum limits or minimum required performance limits, revealed an inverse relationship between radiotracer and analyte concentrations. Saturation with increased radioligand concentration up to 5.5 kBq indicated higher holding potential. However, increasing incubation time to 30 min did not significantly increase analyte-binding. The IHRs performance was comparable to commercial receptors with control point averages of 348, 410, 555, and 307 counts per minute determined for gentamicin, chloramphenicol, oxytetracycline, and aflatoxin M1, respectively in local milk samples.

Keywords:

• In-house receptor
• monitoring
• food contaminants
• liquid scintillation counter

Acknowledgements

We are also obliged to Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) for facilitating the successful execution of the experiments.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

We thank the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for the support provided under IAEA Coordinated Research Project D52041 and Contract Number 22144: “Radiotracer studies to develop/validate multiclass analytical methods for the analysis of multiple food contaminants”.