Synthetic antibodies for rapid food allergen and mycotoxin detection
A platform for developing synthetic antibodies with high specificity and affinity to enable rapid lateral flow and sandwich assays for detecting food allergens and mycotoxins. Leverages existing synthetic antibody libraries and nanotechnology-integrated immunodiagnostics to deliver faster, more accessible food safety testing compared to conventional methods.
Overview
Foodborne contaminants and allergens represent significant and growing risks to public health, yet conventional antibody development methods are often slow and limited in scale. This solution addresses that gap by developing synthetic antibodies with enhanced specificity and affinity, drawn from existing synthetic antibody libraries, to power next-generation rapid diagnostic tests for food safety. The platform targets a broad spectrum of hazards, including food allergens and mycotoxins, and is designed to deliver results far more quickly than traditional laboratory-based methods.
Technical specifications
Key features:
- Synthetic antibody libraries screened through a tailored bio-panning strategy to identify candidates with well-characterised binding epitopes for mycotoxins and allergens
- Multiple assay formats including sandwich assays and novel lateral flow tests, using both polyclonal antibodies and monoclonal antibodies selected from the libraries
- Nanotechnology integration with immunodiagnostic platforms to enhance sensitivity, speed, and field-deployability
- Broad target applicability spanning mycotoxins, food allergens and their components, as well as pathogens, pesticides, antibiotics, endocrine-disrupting hormones, chemical contaminants, and plant alkaloids
- Expertise in assay design across microplate, tube, and lateral flow formats, enabling flexible deployment in laboratory and point-of-need settings
Technology readiness level
The project builds on a strong foundation of validated expertise in tailored antibody development and rapid immunodiagnostic assay design across multiple formats and target classes. A range of polyclonal antibodies for certain mycotoxins and many food allergens is already available, and UNSW's synthetic antibody libraries provide a ready screening resource. The current stage focuses on developing the bio-panning strategy to isolate high-performance synthetic antibodies and validating them in sandwich and lateral flow assay formats. Further validation will involve broader screening, assay optimisation, and performance benchmarking against conventional detection methods.
About UNSW Sydney
UNSW Sydney is a comprehensive, multi‑faculty public research university spanning STEM, medicine, business and law, and the arts and social sciences. Industry connection is built into the model through a long‑running co‑op program and co‑location with a major hospital precinct in Randwick, enabling faster translation and trials. A Canberra campus deepens defence‑aligned collaboration. Research is supported by competitive awards from the Australian Research Council and the National Health and Medical Research Council, plus state programs and industry partnerships. A dedicated technology transfer office and founder programs guide IP, licensing, and startup formation with clear pathways for sponsored research.
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