Portable T-2 toxin biosensor based on target-responsive DNA hydrogel using water column height as readout

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Biotechnology
• Materials Science

Background:

• T-2 toxin is a highly toxic mycotoxin found in cereals, posing risks to human and animal health.
• Sensitive, rapid, and uncomplicated detection methods for T-2 toxin are crucial for food safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a portable, sensitive, and quantitative sensing system for T-2 toxin detection.
• To enable accurate T-2 toxin analysis without requiring expensive equipment or specialized expertise.

Main Methods:

• A hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogel was created using DNA/aptamer hybrids and polyethyleneimine (PEI), incorporating platinum nanoparticles (Pt NPs).
• The aptamer in the hydrogel specifically binds T-2 toxin, triggering hydrogel disruption and Pt NP release.
• Released Pt NPs catalyze H2O2 decomposition, generating O2 gas that increases pressure and raises a water column in a capillary tube.

Main Results:

• A linear correlation was observed between water column height and T-2 toxin concentration from 20 ng/mL to 6 μg/mL.
• The sensing system demonstrated successful detection of T-2 toxin in real-world samples like barley tea and corn.
• The method offers accurate quantitative analysis suitable for field applications.

Conclusions:

• The developed portable sensing system provides a simple, sensitive, and accurate method for T-2 toxin detection.
• This technology has potential applications in food safety monitoring and risk assessment.
• The system overcomes limitations of traditional methods by being cost-effective and user-friendly.