Advances in Colorimetric Strategies for Mycotoxins Detection: Toward Rapid Industrial Monitoring.

Mycotoxins contamination is a global public health concern. Therefore, highly sensitive and selective techniques are needed for their on-site monitoring. Several approaches are conceivable for mycotoxins analysis, among which colorimetric methods are the most attractive for commercialization purposes thanks to their visual read-out, easy operation, cost-effectiveness, and rapid response.

Investigation of a Truncated Aptamer for Ofloxacin Detection Using a Rapid FRET-Based Apta-Assay.

In this work, we describe the use of a new truncated aptamer for the determination of ofloxacin (OFL), being a principal quinolone commonly used in both human and animal healthcare. Since the affinity of a 72-mer ssDNA sequence has been previously described without further investigations, this paper demonstrates the first computational prediction of the binding motif between this aptamer and OFL through in silico molecular docking studies. Besides, we suggest the application of the characterized recognition mechanism in a simple FRET (Förster Resonance Energy Transfer) pattern for the rapid aptasensing of the quinolone of interest.

Development of an Impedimetric Aptasensor for Label Free Detection of Patulin in Apple Juice.

In the present work, an aptasensing platform was developed for the detection of a carcinogenic mycotoxin termed patulin (PAT) using a label-free approach. The detection was mainly based on a specific interaction of an aptamer immobilized on carbon-based electrode. A long linear spacer of carboxy-amine polyethylene glycol chain (PEG) was chemically grafted on screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs) via diazonium salt in the aptasensor design.

Design of a redox-active surface for ultrasensitive redox capacitive aptasensing of aflatoxin M1 in milk.

Herein, we report the design of a novel label-free aptasensor based on ferrocene and silicon nanoparticles (SiNPs) for ultrasensitive detection of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in milk. Given that silicon nanomaterials stand out by their high capacitive power, we used them to develop a novel capacitive transduction system based on electrochemical capacitance spectroscopy (ECS). This strategy relies on the changes of the redox capacitance signal owed to the surface-tethered ferrocene film, by performing electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements without using an external redox probe.