One stone two birds: NH2-UiO-66@MB-based bimodal aptasensor for sensitive and rapid detection of zearalenone in cereal products

• Published in: Talanta (Oxford) 2025-04, Vol.285, p.127331, Article 127331
• Main Authors: Zhou, Yuting, Chen, Xiang, Lei, Xianlu, Huang, Meiqi, Ma, Miaomiao, Zeng, Jian, Zhang, Fuyan, Li, Shuang, Sun, Qi, Le, Tao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bimodal aptasensor; Cereal products; Methylene blue; Zearalenone; Zirconium-based metal-organic framework
• ISSN: 0039-9140; 1873-3573; 1873-3573
• DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2024.127331

Zearalenone (ZEN), a prevalent mycotoxin found in cereal crops, poses a significant threat to food safety and human health. To address this issue, there is an urgent need for rapid, sensitive, and cost-effective detection methods. In this study, we developed a novel bimodal aptasensor based on NH2-UiO-66@MB composites for ZEN detection. Methylene blue (MB) was encapsulated within NH2-UiO-66 nanoparticles to enhance fluorescence intensity, and the ZEN aptamer was attached to NH2-UiO-66 via Zr–O–P bonds and Coulombic forces to create a gating effect. In the presence of ZEN, the aptamer bounded to ZEN, triggering a conformational change that released MB, resulting in decreased fluorescence intensity and absorbance. Under optimal conditions, the bimodal aptasensor exhibited wide linear ranges (2.5–300 ng/mL for colorimetry and 0.125–200 ng/mL for fluorescence) and low limits of detection (1.16 ng/mL for colorimetry and 0.03 ng/mL for fluorescence). Furthermore, the aptasensor demonstrated high specificity and reproducibility, with recovery rates ranging from 97.43 % to 103.71 % in spiked cereal products. These findings highlight the potential of the developed bimodal aptasensor as a novel tool for the rapid, accurate, and cost-effective detection of ZEN in cereal products, contributing to improved food safety monitoring. [Display omitted] •Dual-mode aptasensor for rapid zearalenone (ZEN) detection in cereals.•NH2-UiO-66@MB composites enhance optical sensitivity.•Aptamer-gated MB release for target-responsive signal transduction.•Wide linear range & low LOD for sensitive ZEN analysis.