Molecular confinement-engineered electrochemiluminescence aptasensor for ultrasensitive monitoring of zearalenone in cereals

Zearalenone (ZEN), a prevalent estrogenic mycotoxin in cereals, poses significant risks to food safety and public health. Herein, an ultrasensitive electrochemiluminescence (ECL) aptasensor was developed for ZEN detection in cereal-based foods, integrating molecular confinement engineering and catalytic amplification strategies. 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-aminophenyl)-21H,23H-porphyrin (TCPP) was encapsulated into zirconium-based metal-organic frameworks (Zr-TCPP) through molecular confinement, which addressed the inherent issues of luminophores such as poor water solubility and structural instability. For signal amplification, a Co 3 O 4 -ZnO/Ti 3 C 2 T x -Pd (COZT-Pd) composite was designed as a co-reactant accelerator, which efficiently promoted the generation of SO 4 •− radicals, significantly accelerating the ECL response of the luminophore. The constructed aptasensor exhibited a wide linear range from 1 pg/mL to 100 μg/mL with an exceptionally low detection limit of 0.97 pg/mL. Crucially, the sensor demonstrated high accuracy and practicality through recovery tests in spiked maize and wheat samples, with recoveries ranging from 97.7% to 102.6%. This work provides a robust and reliable analytical platform for the ultrasensitive detection of mycotoxins, holding great promise for ensuring food quality and safety.