Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

ssDNA-C3N4 conjugates-based nanozyme sensor array for discriminating mycotoxins

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Microchimica Acta Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract 

A nanozyme sensor array based on the ssDNA-distensible C3N4 nanosheet sensor elements for discriminating multiple mycotoxins commonly existing in contaminated cereals has been explored. The sensor array exploited (a) three DNA nonspecific sequences (A40, T40, C40) absorbed on the C3N4 nanosheets as sensor elements catalyzing the oxidation of TMB; (b) the presence of five mycotoxins affected the catalytic activity of three nanozymes with various degrees. The parameter (A0-A) was employed as the signal output to obtain the response patterns for different mycotoxins with the same concentration where A0 and A were the absorption peak values at 650 nm of oxTMB in the absence and presence of target mycotoxins, respectively. After the raw data was subjected to principal component analysis, 3D canonical score plots were obtained. The sensor array was capable of separating five mycotoxins from each other with 100% accuracy even if the concentration of the mycotoxins was as low as 1 nM. Moreover, the array performed well in discriminating the mycotoxin mixtures with different ratios. Importantly, the practicality of this sensor array was demonstrated by discriminating the five mycotoxins spiking in corn-free samples in 3D canonical score plots, validating that the sensor array can act as a flexible detection tool for food safety.

Graphical abstract

A nanozyme sensor array was developed based on the ssDNA-distensible C3N4 NSs sensor elements for discriminating muitiple mycotoxins.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Scheme 1
Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

Data Availability

The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

References

  1. Ginter-Hanselmayer G, Nenof P (2019) Clinically relevant mycoses dermatomycoses. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-92300-0_10

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Hussein H, Brasel JM (2001) Toxicity, metabolism, and impact of mycotoxins on humans and animals. Toxicology 167:101–134. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0300-483X(01)00471-1

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Ostry V, Malir F, Toman J, Grosse Y (2017) Mycotoxins as human carcinogens-the IARC monographs classification. Mycotoxin Res 33:65–73. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12550-016-0265-7

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Yan J, Hu W, You K, Ma Z, Xu Y, Li Y, He Q (2020) Biosynthetic mycotoxin conjugate mimetics-mediated green strategy for multiplex mycotoxin immunochromatographic assay. J Agric Food Chem 68:2193–2200. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.9b06383

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Christiane GD, Timothy J, Gerd S (2019) Global mycotoxin occurrence in feed: a ten-year survey. Toxins 11:375. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins11070375

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Sun J, Li W, Zhu X, Jiao S, Chang Y, Wang S, Dai S, Xu R, Dou M, Li Q, Li J (2021) A novel multiplex mycotoxin surface-enhanced raman spectroscopy immunoassay using functional gold nanotags on a silica photonic crystal microsphere biochip. J Agric Food Chem 69:11494–11501. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.1c03469

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Dong S, Yan J, Zhou S, Zhou Q (2022) Mycotoxins detection based on electrochemical approaches. Electroanalysis 34:132–147. https://doi.org/10.1002/elan.202100349

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Wu Z, Xu E, Chughtai MFJ, Jin Z, Irudayaraj J (2017) Highly sensitive fluorescence sensing of zearalenone using a novel aptasensor based on upconverting nanoparticles. Food Chem 230:673–680. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2017.03.100

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Delaney EAP, Prashant SD, Richard AM (2020) Intrinsic “turn-on” aptasensor detection of ochratoxin a using energy-transfer fluorescence. J Agric Food Chem 68:2249–2255. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.9b07391

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Jiang D, Huang C, Shao L, Wang X, Jiao Y, Li W, Chen J, Xu X (2020) Magneto-controlled aptasensor for simultaneous detection of ochratoxin A and fumonisin B1 using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry with multiple metal nanoparticles as element labels. Anal Chim Acta 1127:182–189. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aca.2020.06.057

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Yang Y, Li W, Shen P, Liu R, Li Y, Xu J, Zheng Q, Zhang Y, Li J, Zheng T (2017) Aptamer fluorescence signal recovery screening for multiplex mycotoxins in cereal samples based on photonic crystal microsphere suspension array. Sensors and Actuators B 248:351–358. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2017.04.004

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Goud KY, Reddy KK, Satyanarayana M, Vengatajalabathy G (2020) A review on recent developments in optical and electrochemical aptamer-based assays for mycotoxins using advanced nanomaterials. Microchim Acta 187:1–32. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-019-4034-0

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. He D, Wu Z, Cui B, Jin Z, Xu E (2020) A fluorometric method for aptamer-based simultaneous determination of two kinds of the fusarium mycotoxins zearalenone and fumonisin B1 making use of gold nanorods and upconversion nanoparticles. Microchim Acta 187:1–8. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-020-04236-4

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Wu S, Duan N, Ma X, Xia Y, Wang H, Wang Z, Zhang Q (2012) Multiplexed fluorescence resonance energy transfer aptasensor between upconversion nanoparticles and graphene oxide for the simultaneous determination of mycotoxins. Anal Chem 84:6263–6270. https://doi.org/10.1021/ac301534w

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Qin L, Wang X, Liu Y, Wei H (2018) 2D-MOF nanozyme sensor arrays for probing phosphates and their enzymatic hydrolysis. Anal Chem 90:9983–9989. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.8b02428

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Li Y, Wang S, Liu Q, Chen Z (2019) A chrono-colorimetric sensor array for differentiation of catechins based on silver nitrate-induced metallization of gold nanoparticles at different reaction time intervals. ACS Sustainable Chem Eng 7:17306–17312. https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.9b04154

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Liu C, You X, Lu D, Shi G, Deng J, Zhou T (2020) Gelsolin encountering Ag nanorods/triangles: an aggregation based colorimetric sensor array for in vivo monitoring the cerebrospinal Aβ42% as an indicator of Cd2+ exposure-related Alzheimer’s disease pathogenesis. ACS Appl Bio Mater 3:7965–7973. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsabm.0c01078

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Mao J, Lu Y, Chang N, Yang J, Zhang S, Liu Y (2016) Multidimensional colorimetric sensor array for discrimination of proteins. Biosens Bioelectron 86:56–61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bios.2016.06.040

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Sun W, Lu Y, Mao J, Chang N, Yang J, Liu Y (2015) Multidimensional sensor for pattern recognition of proteins based on DNA-Gold nanoparticles conjugates. Anal Chem 87:3354–3359. https://doi.org/10.1021/ac504587h

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Wu S, Guo D, Xu X, Pan J, Niu X (2020) Colorimetric quantification and discrimination of phenolic pollutants based on peroxidase-like Fe3O4 nanoparticles. Sens Actuators, B Chem 303:127225. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2019.127225

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Li S, Liu X, Liu Q, Chen Z (2020) Colorimetric differentiation of flavonoids based on effective reactivation of acetylcholinesterase induced by different affinities between flavonoids and metal ions. Anal Chem 92:3361–3365. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.9b05378

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Wang Z, Xu C, Lu Y, Chen X, Yuan H, Wei G, Ye G, Chen J (2017) Fluorescence sensor array based on amino acid derived carbon dots for pattern-based detection of toxic metal ions. Sensors Actuators B Chem 241:1324–1330. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2016.09.186

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Xu W, Ren C, Teoh CL, Peng J, Gadre SH, Rhee HW, Lee CLK, Chang YT (2014) An artificial tongue fluorescent sensor array for identification and quantitation of various heavy metal ions. Anal Chem 86:8763–8769. https://doi.org/10.1021/ac501953z

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Li M, Guan Y, Ding C, Chen Z, Ren J, Qu X (2016) An ultrathin graphitic carbon nitride nanosheet: a novel inhibitor of metal-induced amyloid aggregation associated with Alzheimer’s disease. J Mater Chem B 4:4072–4075. https://doi.org/10.1039/C6TB01215A

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Lv Y, Chen S, Shen Y, Ji J, Zhou Q, Liu S, Zhang Y (2018) Competitive multiple-mechanism-driven electrochemiluminescent detection of 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine. J Am Chem Soc 140:2801–2804. https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.8b00515

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Wang X, Qin L, Lin M, Xing H, Wei H (2019) Fluorescent graphitic carbon nitride-based nanozymes with peroxidase-like activities for ratiometric biosensing. Anal Chem 91:10648–10656. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.9b01884

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Xiong Y, Li W, Wen Q, Xu D, Ren J, Lin Q (2022) Aptamer-engineered nanomaterials to aid in mycotoxin determination. Food Control 135:108661. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2021.108661

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Wang Q, Wang W, Lei J, Xu N, Gao F, Ju H (2013) Fluorescence quenching of carbon nitride nanosheet through its interaction with DNA for versatile fluorescence sensing. Anal Chem 85:12182–12188. https://doi.org/10.1021/ac403646n

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Wang YM, Liu JW, Adkins GB, Shen W, Trinh MP, Duan LY, Jiang JH, Zhong W (2017) Enhancement of the intrinsic peroxidase-like activity of graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets by ssDNAs and its application for detection of exosomes. Anal Chem 89:12327–12333. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.7b03335

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Liu MX, Zhang H, Zhang XW, Chen S, Yu YL, Wang JH (2021) Nanozyme sensor array plus solvent-mediated signal amplification strategy for ultrasensitive ratiometric fluorescence detection of exosomal proteins and cancer identification. Anal Chem 93:9002–9010. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.1c02010

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Avantaggiato G, Greco D, Damascelli A, Solfrizzo M, Visconti A (2014) Assessment of multi-mycotoxin adsorption efficacy of grape pomace. J Agric Food Chem 62:497–507. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf404179h

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Wang J, Yu L, Wang Z, Wei W, Wang K, Wei X (2021) Constructing 0D/2D Z-scheme heterojunction of CdS/g-C3N4 with enhanced photocatalytic activity for H2 evolution. Catal Lett 151:3550–3561. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10562-021-03579-8

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Ma TY, Tang Y, Dai S, Qiao S (2014) Proton-functionalized two-dimensional graphitic carbon nitride nanosheet: an excellent metal-/label-free biosensing platform. Small 10:2382–2389. https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.201303827

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Guo H, Ji J, Wang J, Sun X (2020) Co-contamination and interaction of fungal toxins and other environmental toxins. Trends Food Sci Technol 103:162–178. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tifs.2020.06.021

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Zong C, Jiang F, Wang X, Li P, Xu L, Yang H (2021) Imaging sensor array coupled with dual-signal amplification strategy for ultrasensitive chemiluminescence immunoassay of multiple mycotoxins. Biosens Bioelectron 177:112998. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bios.2021.112998

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Zong C, Jiang F, Wang X, Li P, Xu L, Yang H (2021) Imaging sensor array coupled with dual-signal amplification strategy for ultrasensitive chemiluminescence immunoassay of multiple mycotoxins. Biosens Bioelectron 177:112998. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bios.2021.112998

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Nolan P, Auer S, Spehar A, Oplatowska-Stachowiak M, Campbell K (2021) Evaluation of mass sensitive micro-array biosensors for their feasibility in multiplex detection of low molecular weight toxins using mycotoxins as model compounds. Talanta 222:121521. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.talanta.2020.121521

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Wang YK, Yan YX, Ji WH, Wang H, Li SQ, Zou Q, Sun JH (2013) Rapid simultaneous quantification of zearalenone and fumonisin B1 in corn and wheat by lateral flow dual immunoassay. J Agric Food Chem 61:5031–5036. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf400803q

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This project was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant Nos. 21605100) and the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (ZR2021MB066, ZR2020KB020).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qufu Normal University, Qufu Shandong, 273165, People’s Republic of China

    Jing Zhu, Wenxing Xu, Ye Yang & Rongmei Kong

  2. College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shangqiu Normal University, Shangqiu, 476000, People’s Republic of China

    Junmei Wang

Authors
  1. Jing Zhu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Wenxing Xu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ye Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Rongmei Kong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Junmei Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Jing Zhu or Junmei Wang.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

Jing Zhu has received research grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (21605100 and ZR2021MB066). Rongmei Kong has received research grants from the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (ZR2020KB020). The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.

Additional information

Publisher's note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary file1 (DOCX 17545 KB)

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zhu, J., Xu, W., Yang, Y. et al. ssDNA-C3N4 conjugates-based nanozyme sensor array for discriminating mycotoxins. Microchim Acta 190, 6 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-022-05593-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-022-05593-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation