Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 9, 2025

Author Spotlight: High-Quality Quantum Dot Nanobeads for Sensitive Fluorescent Lateral Flow Immunoassays
Published on: June 28, 2024
A fluorescence biosensor based on single-stranded DNA and carbon quantum dots for acrylamide detection.
Qingyi Wei1, Peiyao Zhang1, Ting Liu1
1School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, China; Academy of Contemporary Food Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou 510006, China; Engineering and Technological Research Centre of Guangdong Province on Intelligent Sensing and Process Control of Cold Chain Foods, & Guangdong Province Engineering Laboratory for Intelligent Cold Chain Logistics Equipment for Agricultural Products, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Centre, Guangzhou 510006, China.
A new fluorescent biosensor detects acrylamide (AM), a food carcinogen. This ssDNA-CQD sensor offers a sensitive and practical method for identifying AM in food products.
Area of Science:
- Analytical Chemistry
- Biotechnology
- Food Science
Background:
- Acrylamide (AM) is a potential carcinogen formed during high-temperature food processing.
- Its presence in food poses risks to human health.
- Accurate detection methods for AM in food are crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a simple and sensitive fluorescent biosensor for acrylamide detection.
- To utilize the interaction between single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) and carbon quantum dots (CQDs) for sensing.
- To evaluate the biosensor's performance in standard solutions and food samples.
Main Methods:
- A fluorescent biosensor was constructed using ssDNA and CQDs.
- The fluorescence quenching of CQDs by ssDNA was monitored.
- Acrylamide's preferential binding to ssDNA was exploited to modulate fluorescence.
- Detection limits and linear ranges were determined under optimized conditions.
Main Results:
- The ssDNA-CQD system showed reduced fluorescence, which was further modulated by AM presence.
- A low detection limit of 2.41 × 10-8 M for AM was achieved.
- A linear detection range from 5 × 10-3 to 1 × 10-7 M with R2 = 0.9895 was established.
- The biosensor demonstrated good recovery rates (91.36-98.11%) in bread crust samples.
Conclusions:
- The developed ssDNA-CQD fluorescent biosensor is a sensitive and selective tool for acrylamide detection.
- The biosensor shows potential for practical application in monitoring acrylamide levels in food products.
- This method offers a simple and efficient approach for food safety analysis.

