10.1021/ac034876a
The study presents the development of a biosensor-based assay for the quantification of riboflavin (Rf) in milk samples using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technology. The assay involves the indirect measurement of Rf by detecting the excess of riboflavin binding protein (RBP) that remains free after complexation with Rf molecules originally present in the sample. The sensor chip is modified with covalently immobilized Rf to bind the excess RBP. The method involves a chemical modification to introduce a reactive ester group on the Rf molecule for immobilization on the chip surface. Calibration solutions are prepared by mixing Rf standard solutions with an optimized concentration of RBP, and the Rf content in milk samples is measured by comparing the response against the calibration. The results are comparable to those obtained from an official HPLC-fluorescence procedure, with a limit of quantification determined to be 234 μg/L and a limit of detection to 70 μg/L. The study demonstrates the potential of SPR-based biosensors as a competitive alternative to traditional analytical techniques for the determination of riboflavin in food samples.