Messa a punto e validazione di metodiche analitiche per la determinazione di micotossine in matrici biologiche mediante UPLC-MS/MS

The occurrence of mycotoxins contamination in various crops is of major concern as it has major implications for food and feed safety. The aim of the study was the set up and the validation of fast and simple methods by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC†"MS/MS) for the simultaneous determination of different mycotoxins: aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, G2), ochratoxin A, fumonisins (FB1, FB2), deoxynivalenol and zearalenone in biological matrices. A method was developed for the analysis of samples of dried pet-food; the method showed appropriate performances and was applied to 49 commercial samples in order to test its efficacy and gain some preliminary data about mycotoxins contamination in dog food available in the Italian market. The results have shown a quite high percentage of positive samples, mainly contaminated by fumonisin, deoxynivalenol and ochratoxin A. All the observed values were below the limits specified by regulations (Rec. CE 2006/576). A second method was set up and validated for the identification and quantification of mycotoxins in cheese samples; for this matrix it was included also the aflatoxin M1, which is specific of dairy products. Different chemical-physical properties of the analytes and the complex composition of the matrix led to some difficulties to the development of the method. Finally, the method validated has proved to be rapid, simple and reliable and was applied to different types of cheeses to prove its versatility. Preliminary results have shown the absence of all mycotoxins detected. Both methods are useful tools for the monitoring of mycotoxins contamination in unconventional matrices, not subjected to wide studies until now.