A PNA-array platform for the detection of hidden allergens in foodstuffs

A duplex PCR method was developed to simultaneously detect the presence of hazelnut and peanut in raw materials and commercial products. It was found to be able to specifically detect traces of the investigated products down to 50 pg of their target DNA. A PNA array device has been designed and implemented to be used in combination with the duplex PCR in order to investigate the presence of traces of potentially allergenic nuts in foodstuffs. A PNA probe for each target amplified by the duplex PCR was designed, synthesized and characterized. The PNA probes were then deposited on commercial slides in order to build a PNA array to be used for recognizing the PCR products; the concentration of the probes as function of the concentration of the target DNA, together with the specificity of the probes were investigated. The conditions optimized during the setting of the experiment were used to obtain the final version of the PNA array which was then used to test several commercially available foodstuffs claiming to contain or not to contain the targeted nuts.