Microfluidic chemistry assisted synthesis of cobalt quantum dot embedded nitrogen doped carbon with oxidase-like properties toward ascorbic acid detection.

Ascorbic acid (AA) is a powerful antioxidant in food safety and disease treatment. It is of great significance to develop a low-cost, high-stability, and easy-to-operate colorimetric method for quantitative detection of AA in food or human body. Although various nanozymes have been developed for the colorimetric detection of AA, the size regulation of the catalytic center of nanozymes remains a challenge.

Smartphone-coupled three-layered paper-based microfluidic chips demonstrating stereoscopic capillary-driven fluid transport towards colorimetric detection of pesticides.

The existence of pesticide residues in the hydrosphere, biosphere, and anthroposphere can cause acute or chronic diseases and deteriorate the environment. Therefore, efficient detection of pesticide residues is of great significance to prevent food poisoning, control food pollution, and protect human lives by recognizing their distribution and concentration. Herein, a novel smartphone-coupled three-layered paper-based microfluidic chip is proposed as a facile platform to detect the pesticides.

Identification of pyruvate kinase 2 as a possible crab allergen and analysis of allergenic proteins in crabs consumed in Taiwan.

In Taiwan, crab is one of the main causes for food allergy. Several proteins are recognized as crustacean allergens, and tropomyosin is known to be the major one. However, sensitization patterns of Taiwanese patients to crustacean allergens remain unclear.

Identification of pyruvate kinase as a novel allergen in whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) by specific-IgE present in patients with shrimp allergy.

Food allergy is one of the most important health issues worldwide. In Taiwan, current literature suggests shrimps and crabs are the most common causes of food allergy, and are frequently associated with acute allergic reactions such as urticaria, atopic dermatitis, and asthma. However, knowledge regarding the shrimp allergens remains limited.