Detection of ractopamine residues in pork by surface plasmon resonance-based biosensor inhibition immunoassay

A surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor inhibition immunoassay for determination of ractopamine (Rac) residue in pork was constructed by immobilising Rac derivative on the SPR-2004 biosensor chip. After extraction with perchloric acid, pork sample was cleaned by ethyl acetate and analyzed by SPR-2004 biosensor. The limit of detection (LOD) was 0.6 μg/kg for pork sample. Recoveries of Rac were higher than 80% with relative standard deviations below 10%. Although the same pretreatment was applied for both the UPLC–MS/MS and the biosensor, the biosensor showed little matrix interference by constructing pure solution and matrix-match calibration curves. Compared with Biacore Q made by Biacore AB, SPR-2004 biosensor made by Chinese Academy of Sciences which is of low cost and showed minimal matrix interferences. Accordingly, this biosensor was a promising screening instrument to be used for detection of ractopamine in supermarkets, food factories and food regulatory organisations.