A FRET aptasensor for sensitive detection of aflatoxin B1 based on a novel donor–acceptor pair between ZnS quantum dots and Ag nanocubes

Abstract

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is one of the most carcinogenic chemicals. A novel fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) sensor based on aptamer recognition technology is proposed for the sensitive detection of AFB1 in moldy peanuts using Ag nanocubes as energy acceptors and ZnS quantum dots (QDs) as energy donors. Compared to the traditional FRET system based on an Au quencher, Ag nanocubes can not only quench the fluorescence of aptamer modified ZnS QDs, but are also inexpensive. In addition, compared with heavy metal QDs, ZnS QDs are environmentally friendly, have excellent photochemical properties, and are ideal energy donors. Without Ag nanocubes, the aptamer modified ZnS QDs emits blue fluorescence under an ultraviolet lamp. Because the emission spectrum of ZnS and the absorption spectrum of Ag nanocubes meet the requirements of FRET, the fluorescence quenching of ZnS QDs is realized. Nevertheless, with AFB1, the specific binding of aptamer and complementary chain makes the ZnS QDs break away from the Ag nanocubes, which leads to the fluorescence recovery of the ZnS QDs. Under the optimized detection conditions, the linear range of AFB1 was 5 pg mL⁻¹ to 300 ng mL⁻¹, and there was no obvious reaction with other similar mycotoxins. According to S/N = 3, the detection limit of AFB1 was 2.67 pg mL⁻¹. The detection of AFB1 in peanut samples shows that the new FRET system can successfully be applied in the future to agricultural products.