Flow-Through Aptamer-SERS Microfluidic Platform for Aflatoxin B1 Detection in Food Crops

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Biosensing
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Mycotoxins, like Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), pose significant risks to food safety due to their high toxicity.
• Current detection methods often lack the required sensitivity or specificity for complex food matrices.
• Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) offers high sensitivity but requires enhanced selectivity for reliable analyte identification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a highly selective and sensitive detection platform for Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1).
• To enhance the specificity of SERS by integrating aptamers for targeted AFB1 recognition.
• To create a robust lab-on-a-chip device for rapid, in situ toxin analysis in food crops.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a flow-through lab-on-a-chip device with an integrated SERS-active gold nanohole array.
• Functionalization of the SERS platform with AFB1-specific aptamers (apta-SERS).
• Testing the platform's performance using standard solutions and real food crop extracts, evaluating sensitivity and selectivity.

Main Results:

• The apta-SERS platform demonstrated rapid, high-affinity detection of AFB1.
• Sensitivity was evaluated in the range of 10-700 ppb, with a limit of detection of 10 ppb in complex food matrices.
• The aptamer conjugation significantly enhanced SERS specificity, enabling reliable AFB1 identification.

Conclusions:

• The developed microfluidic apta-SERS platform provides a selective and reproducible method for in situ AFB1 detection.
• This technology minimizes direct contact with contaminated samples, enhancing safety.
• The platform shows promise for portable toxin detection applications in food safety and beyond.