Complementary Strand-Free Persistent Luminescence Ratiometric Aptasensor for Ultrasensitive and Selective Carbendazim...

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Nanotechnology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Carbendazim (CBZ) is a fungicide with significant health risks, requiring sensitive and selective detection methods.
• Existing detection methods often lack sensitivity or require complex procedures.
• Development of novel sensors for accurate quantification of trace CBZ in complex matrices is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel, cDNA-free ratiometric aptasensor for sensitive and selective detection of carbendazim (CBZ).
• To utilize persistent luminescence nanoparticles (PLNP) and methylene blue (MB) for a dual-channel readout system.
• To enable accurate quantification of trace CBZ in real food samples without in-situ excitation.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of an aptamer-modified persistent luminescence nanoparticle (PLNP) platform.
• Integration of methylene blue (MB) as a multifunctional signal transducer and energy transfer acceptor.
• Development of a ratiometric detection strategy based on anti-directional signal changes upon CBZ binding.

Main Results:

• The aptasensor demonstrated a wide linear range (2.27-500 ng mL⁻¹) and a low detection limit (0.682 ng mL⁻¹).
• Quantitative recovery rates ranged from 90.1% to 107.4%, indicating high accuracy.
• The sensor showed superior selectivity and was successfully validated against HPLC analysis in various real food samples.

Conclusions:

• The developed cDNA-free ratiometric aptasensor offers a highly sensitive, selective, and accurate method for CBZ detection.
• The innovative use of MB as a multifunctional component simplifies the sensing mechanism and enhances performance.
• This approach provides a promising tool for monitoring carbendazim residues in food safety applications.