Triple-Mode Aptasensor for Sensitive and Reliable Determination of Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B

Reliable and sensitive detection of Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) is important to prevent potential human health risk from foods contaminated by SEB. Here, a triple-channel assay was developed for ultrasensitive detection of SEB. Based on the optical characteristics of tetramers composed of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs), the SEB amounts in food products can be simultaneously detected by using surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), fluorometry, and circular dichroism (CD). Under SERS mode, fluorescence mode, and CD mode, wide linear detection ranges (1–750 pg/mL, 1–750 pg/mL, and 2–500 pg·mL −1 ) were achieved. Furthermore, the practicality of the novel assay was evaluated by determining SEB contents in spiked milk samples. These results indicate that the triple-mode aptasensor is a potential useful tool in quantitative detection of SEB in foods.