Convergence of computer analysis and biological screening: Advanced immunoanalytical platform for ultra-sensitive oxyfluorfen detection.

Abstract

The common use of Oxyfluorfen (Oxy), a diphenyl ether herbicide, in agriculture, necessitates the development of rapid detection methods to ensure food safety, mitigate environmental risks, and enable on-site pesticide residue monitoring. In this study we developed a highly sensitive immunochromatographic strip for the detection of Oxy. Through computer-assisted hapten design, antibody screening, and system optimization, the method achieved rapid detection of Oxy residues in agricultural products. The optimized strip demonstrated calculated limits of detection (cLOD) of 9.96-14.71 ng/g in apples, cucumbers, cowpeas, and lettuce, significantly lower than the national standard limit. Method validation showed spike recovery rates of 95.2-98.8%, with high consistency to LC-MS/MS results (R2 > 0.99). This technology offers advantages such as simplicity (results in 8 min), low cost, and resistance to matrix interference, making it suitable for on-site monitoring of agricultural product safety.