A label-free aptasensor for turn-on fluorescent detection of ochratoxin A based on aggregation-induced emission probe

A novel label-free fluorescence aptasensor used for the detection of ochratoxin A (OTA) is presented in this study. When aggregated on the surface of DNA aptamer, aggregation-induced emission (AIE) fluorescence probe presents turn-on fluorescence property. The method proposed in this article was based on an AIE probe, 4, 4-(1E,1E)-2, 2-(anthracene-9, 10-diyl) bis (ethene-2, 1-diyl) bis (N, N, N-trimethylbenzenaminium iodide) (DSAI). With OTA present, the aptamer will combine with OTA and the conformation of the aptamer will switch to an antiparallel G-quadruplex from the initial random coil, which obstructs its digestion by Exo I. After the solution is added with DSAI, DSAI will aggregate on the surface of the aptamer/OTA complex and produces a strong emission. In the range of 5 to 500 ng · ml−1 OTA concentrations, the fluorescence increases with a linear logarithm relationship. The detection limit is 1.9 ng · ml−1. This method was used to detect OTA in spiked real samples, with recoveries and RSDs in the range of 92.2% to 106.3%, and 2.7% to 5.2%, respectively.