Innovative Detection System of Ochratoxin A by Thin Film Photodiodes

In this work we present, for the first time, a rapid, compact and innovativemethod for detection of Ochratoxin A (OTA) based on hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) sensors. 2 μl of acidified toluene containing OTA at different concentrations werespotted on the silica side of a High Performance Thin Layer Cromatography plate andaligned with a a-Si:H p-i-n photodiode deposited by Plasma Enhanced Chemical VaporDeposition on a different glass substrate. As an UV radiation excites the mycotoxin, the re-emitted light is detected by the a-Si:H sensor. Results show a very good linearity betweenOTA concentration and the sensor photocurrent over almost three orders of magnitude. Theminimum detected OTA concentration is equal to 0.1ng, showing that the presented systemhas the potential for a low cost system suitable for the early detection of toxins in foods.