Binding characteristics of bovine serum albumin-aflatoxin B1 to polystyrene microtiter plates: importance of hapten to carrier protein molar ratio.

Binding characteristics of bovine serum albumin-aflatoxin B1 conjugates with high (1:54), medium (2:25) and low (1:9) hapten to carrier molar ratios, to the polystyrene microtiter plates are influenced by the stoichiometry of the hapten (Aflatoxin B1) to the carrier protein (bovine serum albumin). Conjugates with optimal hapten to carrier molar ratios (1:25) showed a better binding capacity to the polystyrene microtiter plate as compared to the conjugates with the high molar ratios in a non-competitive ELISA for aflatoxin B1. Denaturation of the conjugate with molar ratio of 1:54 in order to enhance its binding capacity, however, did not result in any significant improvement.