Analytical Methods
·
2026
·
IF 3
Yao Tian,Mengsi Liang,Yongdong Wei,Yuxin Wang,Ning-Bo Li,Yaoyong Wang
Zearalenone (ZEN) is a carcinogenic mycotoxin commonly found in grains, cereals, and dairy products, posing cancer risks to humans and animals. Chronic high-dose ZEN exposure can cause liver disease, immunosuppression, kidney damage, and tumorigenesis. Sensitive and efficient ZEN detection is therefore essential for protecting human and animal health. To meet the need for sensitive, selective, and low-cost mycotoxin sensors in real food samples, we developed a novel ratiometric electrochemical aptamer sensor for ZEN detection. The sensor design utilizes β-cyclodextrin-functionalized graphene (CG) to effectively enhance electron transfer efficiency, combined with host–guest recognition between ferrocene (Fc) and β-cyclodextrin (β-CD), as well as Au-S covalent bonding. The 5′-SH and 3′-MB-modified dual-labeled ZEN aptamer (MB-Apt-SH) was immobilized via β-CD/Fc inclusion, with signal amplified by AuNPs binding to -SH. Without ZEN, the aptamer stays on the electrode, giving high IMB and low IFc. With ZEN, it binds the target, pulling it away. Adding Fc-COOH fills the β-CD cavities, increasing IFc and decreasing IMB, thus raising the IFc/IMB ratio proportionally to ZEN concentration. The sensor exhibits a wide linear range from 1 pg/mL to 1000 ng/mL, with a detection limit of 0.4344 pg/mL. Furthermore, the method was successfully applied to the determination of ZEN in wine samples, yielding recovery rates between 94.00% and 104.60%, demonstrating excellent accuracy and applicability. These results indicate that the MCH/AuNPs/SH-Apt-MB/CG/GCE platform is a highly sensitive and selective electrochemical sensor for ZEN detection.
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TOXICON
·
2025
·
IF 2.4
Ranran Ma,Fred Mwabulili,Weiwei Peng,Weibin Ma,Yuhui Yang,Yanli Xie
Fungal mycotoxins pose a serious threat to human and animal health, especially due to their co-occurrence in food and feed, causing synergistic toxicity. Current enzymatic detoxification strategies often depend on redox mediators, limiting enzyme diversity and restricting practical application. In this study, we characterized PsCopA, a novel multicopper oxidase from Pseudomonas sp., heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli , which efficiently degraded aflatoxin B 1 and zearalenone simultaneously without mediators. PsCopA showed optimal activity at 50°C (pH 7.0) for AFB 1 and 60°C (pH 8.0) for ZEN and retained over 80% activity after 2 h incubation across 20-80°C. UPLC-MS/MS analysis identified AFQ 1 and β-zearalanol as degradation products, both exhibiting significantly reduced hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress in zebrafish, even under co-exposure, suggesting effective mitigation of synergistic toxicity. Notably, PsCopA removed over 90% of toxins from contaminated cornmeal and peanut meal. These findings demonstrate PsCopA has a promising prospect for industrial application in food and feed detoxification.
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Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering
·
2023
·
IF 7.7
Weibin Li,Zedong Wang,Xinwei Wang,Li Cui,Wenyuan Huang,Zhaoyong Zhu,Zhenjiang Liu
Deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEN) pose a serious threat to human health, and have been frequently detected in the aqueous environment. To protect consumers from the harm of mycotoxins , a nanozyme-mediated multiplexed lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) integrated with a smartphone was developed for rapid, highly sensitive and simultaneous quantitative detection of DON and ZEN in the aqueous environment. Highly efficient peroxidase mimicking core-shell Au@Pt nanozymes were synthesized by one-pot method, and then used as signal amplification to highly improve sensitivity of the detection, while a smartphone-based quantitative detection device could rapidly quantify results to improve the detection efficiency of the LIFA for on-site detection. After optimization, the detection time of the assay was 10 min, and the detection limits of the LIFA for DON/ZEN were 0.24/0.04 ng/mL, which were improved 416 and 150 folds compared to the conventional gold nanoparticles (GNPs)-based LFIA. Moreover, there was no obvious cross-reaction with other related mycotoxins, indicating that LFIA had a high specificity. The average recoveries of DON and ZEN from corn, wheat and three water samples were obtained from 94.3 % to 107.9 % with relative standard deviations of 0.2–7.6 %. Furthermore, the accuracy and reliability of the LIFA were evaluated with three spiked water samples, and the results presented good correlations with analytic results from the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (R 2 =0.988 for DON, and 0.983 for ZEN). The results indicate the proposed LIFA was potentially a rapid, on-site simultaneous and highly sensitive method for DON and ZEN detection in the aqueous environment.
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ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
·
2026
·
IF 10.2
Guodong Cai,Lingzhi Chen,Qiyao Jin,Yingjun Hu,Xiaohui Zhou,Xishuai Tong,Hui Zou,Jianhong Gu,Yan Yuan,Zongping Liu,Imourana Alassane-Kpembi,Jianchun Bian
ZEA induces mild oxidative stress in PAMs under physiological conditions. • The estrogen receptor target of ZEA in PAMs is GPR30 rather than ERα. • Blocking the signal transmission between ZEA and GPR30 aggravates PRRSV infection. • Excessive endoplasmic reticulum stress aggravates PRRSV infection. • GPR30 has a functional regulatory effect in ZEA-induced respiratory immunotoxicity. Background Co-exposure to zearalenone (ZEA) and pathogenic microorganisms can accelerate the progression of diseases, and the estrogenic activity of ZEA is potentially implicated in immune-related signal transduction mechanisms. The aim of this study is to clarify the respiratory immunotoxicity and estrogen receptor targets of environmentally relevant doses of ZEA. Methods We predicted the respiratory immunotoxicity of ZEA using a computer – based toxicology platform and verified these results through in vitro experiments. By integrating molecular docking simulations, transcriptomic data, and protein expression analyses, we assessed the expression, distribution, and binding activity of different types of estrogen receptors in porcine alveolar macrophages. Subsequently, we carried out targeted pharmacological interventions on these receptors and established a porcine model infected with Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV) under ZEA exposure conditions to clarify the specific mechanism by which ZEA exerts immunotoxic effects through interaction with estrogen receptors. Results Under physiological conditions, ZEA induces cellular oxidative stress and inflammatory responses via GPR30. Conversely, in the pulmonary microenvironment established by PRRSV infection, blocking the binding of ZEA to GPR30 leads to excessive activation of the PERK signaling pathway-mediated endoplasmic reticulum stress and subsequent apoptosis, thereby exacerbating viral lung injury. Conclusion This research challenges the traditional view that “ZEA directly generates toxic signals upon binding to estrogen receptors”. We have demonstrated the mechanism of the functional modulation of estrogen receptors in the impact of ZEA on respiratory immune toxicity under various pulmonary microenvironments. Download: Download high-res image (124KB) Download: Download full-size image
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ANALYST
·
2023
·Vol. 149
·期 2
·442-450
·
IF 4.2
Ting Wang,Ting Zhou,Kang Wu,Junlin Cao,Yuze Feng,Jianguo Li,Anping Deng
Zearalenone (ZEN) is one of the most toxic mycotoxins widely found in agricultural products. In this study, a sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) integrated with immunoaffinity column extraction for the detection of ZEN in food and feed samples was developed. A ZEN derivative containing a carboxylic group was first synthesized and then linked to bovine serum albumin (BSA). The formed ZEN–BSA conjugate was used as the immunogen for the production of the monoclonal antibody (mAb) against ZEN. The hybridoma clones (1G5) capable of secreting antibodies against ZEN were successfully selected. Based on this mAb, the IC50 and LOD of the ELISA for ZEN were 0.37 ng mL−1 and 0.04 ng mL−1, respectively, which were 1.6–308.1 times lower than those in the published ELISAs, indicating the high sensitivity of our assay. There was no cross-reactivity of the mAb with other four mycotoxins (patulin, AFB1, DON, and OTA). Due to the high similarity in molecular structures among ZEN and its homologs (α-zearalanol, β-zearalanol, zearalanone, α-zearalenol, β-zearalenol), the CR values of the mAb with the homologs were within 3.59%–105.71%. Taking advantage of plenty of mAb, the immunoaffinity column was prepared by immobilizing the mAb on Sepharose-4B gel and filling it into an SPE column. ZEN spiked samples (corn, wheat, feed) were extracted using an immunoaffinity column and measured by ELISA and HPLC-FLD simultaneously. The recoveries of the ELISA for ZEN in the spiked samples were 92.46–105.48% with RSDs of 4.87–10.11%. A good correlation between ELISA (x) and HPLC-FLD (y) with the linear regression equation y = 1.0589x + 1.43815 (R2 = 0.998, n = 6) was obtained. To verify the applicability, the proposed ELISA was also applied to some real samples randomly collected from a local market. It was proven that the newly produced mAb-based ELISA was a feasible and sensitive method for the detection of ZEN in food and feed samples.
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Analytical Methods
·
2020
·Vol. 12
·期 48
·5852-5860
·
IF 2.596
Luying Liu,Yanxia Ma,Xiaoting Zhang,Xixiang Yang,Xiaogang Hu
Highly selective separation of trace bio-toxins in food samples has long been a hot topic pursued by analytical chemists. In this paper, chitosan nanofibers prepared by freeze-drying were modified with aptamers for dispersive solid phase extraction (dSPE) of trace zearalenone. The morphology of achieved chitosan nanofibers was found to be uniform and continuous, and the length was at the micron level with about a 400 nm diameter. The immobilization capacity of the aptamer was as high as 10.1 μg on 5 mg chitosan nanofibers with good stability and repeatability, owing to the high specific surface area of nanofibers. The aptamer modified chitosan nanofibers (Apt-CNFs) showed specific selectivity to zearalenone with a selectivity coefficient of 2.65 compared to the scrambled oligonucleotide functionalized CNFs, and the selectivity factors over other analogs and reference compounds were from 1.57 to 50.0. After the optimization of extraction conditions, the Apt-CNF based dSPE was coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography for zearalenone monitoring, and a good linear range of 0.06–10.0 μg L−1 was achieved with a detection limit of 18.0 ng L−1. The spiking recoveries of 101–108%, 100–110%, and 98.3–101% were achieved for trace zearalenone in corn, wheat, and beer samples, respectively. The residual zearalenone was detected in corn and wheat with a content of 0.365 and 0.0775 μg g−1, respectively.
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FOOD CHEMISTRY
·
2021
·
IF 7.514
Yuhan Sun,Yan Lv,Shuo Qi,Yin Zhang,Zhouping Wang
Zearalenone (ZEN) poses a serious threat to human and animal health. The development of sensitive determination methods for ZEN is of great significance for ensuring the quality and safety of food. Herein, based on a stimuli-responsive aptamer-functionalized metal–organic framework (MOF) nano-container and trivalent DNA peroxidase mimicking enzyme (DNAzyme), an efficient aptasensor was constructed initially for the colorimetric determination of ZEN. The proposed aptasensor only required simple operations but exhibited outstanding specificity, reproducibility, storage stability and reusability simultaneously. Under the optimal conditions, there was a good linear relationship between the changed absorbance and logarithm concentration of ZEN within 0.01–100 ng mL −1 , and the limit of detection (LOD) could reach 0.36 pg mL −1 . Moreover, the proposed aptasensor was reliable in quantifying ZEN in spiked food samples. The current bioassay provides a promising scheme for constructing stable, specific and rapid colorimetric platforms with potential applications in the fields of food safety.
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JOURNAL OF SEPARATION SCIENCE
·
2015
·Vol. 38
·期 12
·2126-2131
·
IF 2.737
Lin Wang,Chuanlei Luan,Fangfang Chen,Rui Wang,Lihua Shao
A novel method has been developed for the analysis of zearalenone in maize products by vortex-assisted ionic-liquid-based dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction combined with HPLC and fluorescence detection. Maize samples were extracted with methanol/water (80:20, v/v) and the extraction solution was then used as the dispersive solvent in the microextraction procedure. The analyte was rapidly transmitted to a small volume of ionic liquid and was determined by HPLC. Various parameters affecting the recovery of the mycotoxin were investigated, such as the type and volume of the extraction solvent, the type and volume of the dispersive solvent, the pH of the aqueous phase, the salt addition, and the time of vortex and centrifugation. Under the optimal experimental conditions, a good linearity of the analyte was obtained in the range of 1.0–1000.0 μg/L with the correlation coefficient of 0.9998. The limit of detection (S/N = 3) and quantification (S/N = 10) were 0.3 and 1.0 μg/kg, and the mean recoveries ranged from 83.5 to 94.9%, with a relative standard deviation less than 5.0%. The proposed method was demonstrated to be simple, cheap, quick, and highly selective and was successfully applied to the determination of zearalenone in maize products.
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Foods
·
2024
·Vol. 13
·期 19
·3192
·
IF 4.7
Guoxing Liu,Zhaoying Liu,Yumeng Sun,Mingna Sun,Jinsheng Duan,Ye Tian,Daolin Du,Ming Li
The integration of advanced materials and signaling cascade strategies is a promising and highly relevant topic for enhancing the performance of bioanalysis. In this study, a three-stage cascade amplification electrochemical bioanalysis (TCAE-bioanalysis) was developed and evaluated for the detection of zearalenone (ZEN). This method couples immunoreaction with a glucose–Fenton–hydroquinone (HQ) system on bimetallic–ZIF (B-ZIF)@CNP nanocomposites. The B-ZIF@CNP-modified gold electrode (AuE) was prepared, offering high conductivity and an excellent reaction interface. The immunoreaction introduced glucose oxidase (GOx) into the glucose–Fenton–HQ system, generating an abundant electron signal. The method achieved an ultrasensitive limit of detection (LOD) as low as 0.87 pg/mL, with an IC50value of 30.8 pg/mL, representing a 229-fold enhancement in sensitivity compared to ELISA using the same monoclonal antibody (McAb). The specificity, reliability, and practicality of this approach were thoroughly demonstrated for agricultural product samples. Additionally, the TCAE-bioanalysis offers several advantages, including simplified preparation for advanced B-ZIF@CNP, a convenient detection system, and the use of common and environmentally friendly reagents. This study presents a comprehensive approach to improving electrochemical bioanalysis and may also expand the application of signaling cascades and environmentally friendly techniques in other biosensing or diagnostic contexts.
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FOOD CHEMISTRY
·
2024
·
IF 8.5
Binbin Zhou,Hao Xie,Xinyi Li,Yongbo Zhu,Lijun Huang,Ming Zhong,Liang Chen
A self–reporting molecularly–imprinted electrochemical sensor is prepared for the detection of Zearalenone (ZEA). Firstly, the reduced graphene nanoribbons and reduced graphene oxide (rGNR–rGO) were simultaneously modified onto a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) to improve the sensor's sensitivity. After electrodepositing copper nanoparticles onto the rGNR–rGO/GCE, cyclic voltammetry scanning was performed in potassium ferrocyanide solution, and copper hexacyanoferrate (CuHCF) was deposited onto rGNR–rGO/GCE to further improve the sensor's sensitivity while giving it self–reporting capability. Then, molecularly–imprinted polymer films were prepared on the CuHCF/rGNR–rGO/GCE to ensure the selectivity of the sensor. It is found that the linear range of ZEA detection by the constructed sensor is 0.25–500 ng·mL −1 , with a detection limit of 0.09 ng·mL −1 . This sensor shows the merits of good selectivity, high sensitivity and accurate detection, providing a great possibility for the precise detection of low concentration ZEA in food.
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TALANTA
·
2024
·
IF 5.6
Yuting Zhou,Xiang Chen,Xianlu Lei,Meiqi Huang,Miaomiao Ma,Jian Zeng,Fuyan Zhang,Shuang Li,Qi Sun,Tao Le
Zearalenone (ZEN), a prevalent mycotoxin found in cereal crops, poses a significant threat to food safety and human health. To address this issue, there is an urgent need for rapid, sensitive, and cost-effective detection methods. In this study, we developed a novel bimodal aptasensor based on NH 2 -UiO-66@MB composites for ZEN detection. Methylene blue (MB) was encapsulated within NH 2 -UiO-66 nanoparticles to enhance fluorescence intensity, and the ZEN aptamer was attached to NH 2 -UiO-66 via Zr–O–P bonds and Coulombic forces to create a gating effect. In the presence of ZEN, the aptamer bounded to ZEN, triggering a conformational change that released MB, resulting in decreased fluorescence intensity and absorbance. Under optimal conditions, the bimodal aptasensor exhibited wide linear ranges (2.5–300 ng/mL for colorimetry and 0.125–200 ng/mL for fluorescence) and low limits of detection (1.16 ng/mL for colorimetry and 0.03 ng/mL for fluorescence). Furthermore, the aptasensor demonstrated high specificity and reproducibility, with recovery rates ranging from 97.43 % to 103.71 % in spiked cereal products. These findings highlight the potential of the developed bimodal aptasensor as a novel tool for the rapid, accurate, and cost-effective detection of ZEN in cereal products, contributing to improved food safety monitoring.
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BIOELECTROCHEMISTRY
·
2024
·
IF 4.8
Pengfei Yu,Jiaqi Cui,Jun Yang,Mati Ullah Khan,Lina Yang,Shanshan Li,Meixin Li,Shuang Liu,Ling Kong,Zhiwei Chen
Zearalenone (ZEN), a secondary metabolite mycotoxin primarily synthesized by Fusarium species and prevalent in cereal grains, exerts estrogenic effects that could induce reproductive toxicity and teratogenic outcomes. To enhance the precision of ZEN detection, we have developed an innovative photoelectrochemical (PEC) aptamer-based sensor employing in situ growth silver sulfide (Ag 2 S) quantum dots-sensitized graphitic carbon nitride/bismuth oxybromide (g-C 3 N 4 /BiOBr) heterojunction. The g-C 3 N 4 /BiOBr composite exhibits robust structural stability and straightforward synthesis. In situ growth Ag 2 S quantum dots could significantly amplify the signal, thereby elevating the sensor’s sensitivity. The sensor utilizes ZEN-specific aptamers for target-specific binding, ensuring high selectivity. Within the concentration range of 0.001 to 100 ng·mL −1 , the photocurrent response demonstrated a significant linear correlation with the logarithmic scale of ZEN concentration, with a detection limit reaching 0.122 pg·mL −1 . This PEC aptamer sensor exhibits excellent stability, reproducibility, and selectivity, which is expected to be used as an effective analytical tool for ZEN detection in practical applications.
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