Production of Ractopamine-Specific Antibodies for the Detection of Growth Promoter Residues in Meat Products

Ractopamine is a non-steroidal β-adrenergic growth promoter widely used as a feed additive in intensive livestock production in developed countries to improve feed conversion efficiency, reduce adipose tissue deposition, and enhance lean muscle growth. However, residual ractopamine accumulated in animal tissues may pose significant risks to human health. Consequently, the use of ractopamine is prohibited in member states of the Eurasian Economic Union and the European Union. Nevertheless, residues of this compound may be present in livestock products imported from United States, Canada, Mexico, and Brazil. The aim of this study was to generate highly specific antibodies against ractopamine for the development of an immunoassay-based method for detecting ractopamine residues in meat products. Successful synthesis of ractopamine conjugates with high-molecular-weight protein carriers enabled the production of polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies exhibiting strong specificity toward ractopamine in indirect ELISA. The analytical sensitivity achieved in competitive ELISA using both buffer solutions and meat matrixes demonstrated that the obtained monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies can serve as highly specific immunoreagents for the effective monitoring of ractopamine residues in meat products.