Preparation of a fluorescent sensor for fast and highly sensitive detection of patulin using a...

Patulin (PAT) is a toxic metabolite from the mycotoxin group, produced by various fungal species, and is commonly found in rotten fruits and their derived products, which pose a potential threat to human health. Therefore, the development of rapid, efficient, and highly sensitive techniques for its determination is of significant importance. In this study, a polyvinylpyrrolidone-modified zirconium-based UiO-66 metal-organic framework (PVP-UiO-66) was prepared and utilized as a fluorescence sensor for PAT detection. TEM, FE-SEM, XRD, and FT-IR analyses were employed to determine the morphology, structure, and to identify the functional groups of the PVP-UiO-66. Various experimental factors, such as pH, time, and temperature, were investigated and optimized. The performance of the developed sensor showed a direct correlation with fluorescence quenching as the PAT concentration increased, at an excitation wavelength of 270.0 nm. The fluorescence quenching response exhibited a linear relationship with PAT concentration in the range of 1.0-15.1 ng/mL, with a limit of quantification (LOQ) and a detection limit (LOD) of 0.96 and 0.29 ng/mL, respectively. The method also demonstrated good repeatability, with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of 2.66 %. Finally, the proposed technique was employed for the determination of PAT in fruit juice samples.