Rapid detection of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, G2, and total aflatoxins in citri reticulatae pericarpium and coicis seed based on nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots

Aflatoxins are common food contaminants that pose serious public health risks. This study presents a straightforward, eco-friendly hydrothermal method for synthesizing carbon quantum dots (CQDs) with high selectivity for aflatoxins detection. The CQDs with a 48% quantum fluorescence yield show a strong linear fluorescence response to toxin concentration, achieving a detection limit of 0.16–0.29   ng/mL. Furthermore, the total aflatoxins in citri reticulatae pericarpium (CRP) and coicis seed (CS) were quantified, using a relative correction factor based on the AFB1 standard curve. The method, combined with immunoaffinity column pretreatment, effectively eliminated interferences and enabled accurate quantification, while reducing assay costs. The relative standard deviation (RSD) was below 8%, and spiked recoveries ranged from 99.02% to 106.5%, matching with those obtained using chromatographic methods. This approach provides a rapid, sensitive, and reliable solution for aflatoxins screening in food, enhancing detection efficiency and accuracy, for food safety and applications.