Nuevos elementos de reconocimiento molecular selectivo y métodos de amplificación para el desarrollo de (bio)sensores ópticosNew selective molecular recognition elements and amplification methods for the development of optical (bio)sensors

Abstract

Mycotoxins are low molecular weight substances produced as secondary metabolites by a wide variety of filamentous fungi that can be found as natural contaminants in many foods and feeds. The number of toxic fungal metabolites currently known exceeds the thousand units, but only a few of them are considered a threat to humans and animal health. Exposure to mycotoxins can be due to the consumption of contaminated foodstuff, but also by inhalation of dust containing mycotoxigenic fungal spores. It has been estimated that nearly 40% of the global crops can be contaminated with mycotoxins. Hence, the development of analytical methods that can detect these mycotoxins in foodstuff are essential. On the other hand, despite their elevated risk infood quality, several mycotoxins present medical applications, for example as immunosuppressant drugs for organ transplantation. However, a limitation for this application is the narrow therapeutic window presented by these drugs, e.g., mycophenolic acid. High doses of these compounds can cause serious adverse health effects in humans, but little doses could not be sufficient to prevent organ rejection in transplanted patients. Thus, it is also of utmost importance to monitor the levels of these compounds in blood to improve the clinical efficacy of the immunosuppressant...