A "turnon" aptasensor for simultaneous and time-resolved fluorometric determination of zearalenone, trichothecenes A and aflatoxin B1 using WS2 as a quencher.

A "turn on" time-resolved fluorometric aptasensor is described for the simultaneous detection of zearalenone (ZEN), trichothecenes A (T-2), and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). Multicolor-emissive nanoparticles doped with lanthanide ions (Dy3+, Tb3+, Eu3+) were functionalized with respective aptamers and applied as a bioprobe, and tungsten disulfide (WS2) nanosheets are used as a quencher of time-resolved fluorescence. The assay exploits the quenching efficiency of WS2 and the interactions between WS2 and the respective DNA aptamers. The simultaneous recognition of the three mycotoxins can be performed in a single solution. In the absence of targets, WS2 is easily adsorbed by the mixed bioprobes via van der Waals forces between nucleobases and the WS2 basal plane. This brings the bioprobe and WS2 into close proximity and results in quenched fluorescence. In the presence of targets, the fluorescence of the bioprobes is restored because the analytes react with DNA probe and modify their molecular conformation to weaken the interaction between the DNAs and WS2. Under the optimum conditions and at an excitation wavelength of 273 nm, the time-resolved fluorescence intensities (peaking at 488, 544 and 618 nm and corresponding to emissions of Dy3+, Tb3+ and Eu3+) were used to quantify ZEN, T-2 and AFB1, respectively, with detection limits of 0.51, 0.33 and 0.40 pg mL-1 and a linear range from 0.001 to 100 ng mL-1. The three mycotoxins can be detected simultaneously without mutual interference. The assay was applied to the quantification of ZEN, T-2 and AFB1 in (spiked) maize samples. This homogeneous aptamer based assay can be performed within 1 h. Conceivably, it can become an alternative to other heterogeneous methods such as the respective enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Graphical abstract Schematic presentation of an aptasensor for simultaneous detection of zearalenone, trichothecenes A and aflatoxin B1 using aptamer modified time-resolved fluorescence nanoparticles as signalling probes and tungsten disulfide as the quencher. This assay shows lower detection limit and requires no washing steps.