Electrochemical aptasensor based on DNA nanoflowers for the sensitive detection of acrylamide

As a prevalent heat-induced byproduct, acrylamide (AA) is frequently generated during thermal food processing, particularly in baked and fried goods. It is a Group 2A carcinogen produced via the Maillard reaction and exhibits neurotoxicity as well as reproductive and developmental toxicity. In this work, DNA nanoflowers (DNF) with remarkable signal amplification were integrated with methylene blue (MB) to fabricate a novel, high-performance electrochemical signal probe. The high affinity and selective recognition of the aptamer toward AA effectively prevents the signal probe from attaching to the electrode surface, enabling ultrasensitive, quantitative electrochemical detection of AA. Under optimal conditions, the proposed sensor achieved an ultra-low limit of detection of 0.948 pM, with a linear response spanning from 0.005 to 500 nM. Moreover, the sensor exhibited exceptional anti-interference capacity, satisfactory reproducibility, favourable repeatability, and long-term operational stability. Detection of actual samples and quality-control samples confirms the reliability of the sensor, indicating promising applications for AA detection and providing a new approach in this field.