Novel mesoporous silica surface loaded gold nanocomposites SERS aptasensor for sensitive detection of zearalenone

• Mycotoxin contamination is a severe threat to global food security, thus fast and effective detection of myco-toxins is of great significance. Herein, mesoporous silica surface loaded gold nanocomposites (MSN-Rh6G-AuNPs) were prepared as surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate, and the SERS aptasensor (MSN-Rh6G-AuNPs@apt) was further obtained by aptamer functionalization which can realize the quantitative and sensitive detection of zearalenone (ZEN). The small nanogaps between AuNPs made MSN-Rh6G-AuNPs present strong SERS performance under excitation light irradiation, while the aptamer performed the functions of ZEN recognition and Raman signal masking. The acquired results revealed that the SERS intensity at 1508 cm-1 had a good linear relationship with ZEN concentration of 3-200 ng/mL and the limit of detection (LOD) was calculated to be 0.0064 ng/mL. In addition, the designed SERS aptasensor was successfully applied to the detection of ZEN in corn, indicating great potential in practical implications.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Kemi -- Analytisk kemi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Chemical Sciences -- Analytical Chemistry (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Surface -enhanced Raman spectroscopy

Zearalenone

Nanocomposites

Aptamer functionalization

Specific detection

Food safety

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)