Single-Step LRET Aptasensor for Rapid Mycotoxin Detection.

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Biosensors
• Food Safety

Background:

• Mycotoxin contamination in food poses a significant public health risk.
• Increasing consumption of fresh produce heightens consumer awareness of food safety.
• There is a critical need for rapid and sensitive mycotoxin detection methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a single-step aptasensor for the rapid and sensitive detection of mycotoxins.
• To utilize luminescence resonance energy transfer (LRET) for enhanced detection capabilities.
• To enable selective mycotoxin detection in complex matrices like colored food samples.

Main Methods:

• Construction of a LRET aptasensor using upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) as donors and a quencher-labeled aptamer as acceptors.
• UCNPs doped with Mn2+, Yb3+, and Er3+ (NaYF4:Yb3+,Er3+) were functionalized with a linker and black hole quencher 3 (BHQ3).
• Optimization of linker length to achieve maximum quenching efficiency and control donor-acceptor distance.

Main Results:

• The developed LRET aptasensor demonstrated selective and sensitive detection of mycotoxins.
• Detection was achieved in under 10 minutes, even in colored food samples.
• The sensor design eliminated the need for multiple bioassay steps, simplifying the process.

Conclusions:

• The single-step LRET aptasensor is a promising tool for rapid on-site detection of mycotoxins.
• This technology has significant potential for applications in food safety, environmental monitoring, and clinical diagnostics.
• The aptasensor offers a sensitive and efficient alternative to traditional mycotoxin detection methods.