A novel MB-tagged aptasensor for Aflatoxin B1 detection in food using Fe3O4 nanoparticles substantiated with in silico modelling

Aspergillus fungi species found in wheat, maize, rice, and other agricultural products produce the carcinogenic mycotoxin known as Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), which can cause cancer in animals and humans. Consequently, recent interest has surged regarding the need for inexpensive, selective, and sensitive...

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Main Authors: Lyndon Naidoo, Gloria Ebube Uwaya, Florian Meier, Krishna Bisetty
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2023-12-01
Series:Biosensors and Bioelectronics: X
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590137023001139
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author Lyndon Naidoo
Gloria Ebube Uwaya
Florian Meier
Krishna Bisetty
author_facet Lyndon Naidoo
Gloria Ebube Uwaya
Florian Meier
Krishna Bisetty
author_sort Lyndon Naidoo
collection DOAJ
description Aspergillus fungi species found in wheat, maize, rice, and other agricultural products produce the carcinogenic mycotoxin known as Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), which can cause cancer in animals and humans. Consequently, recent interest has surged regarding the need for inexpensive, selective, and sensitive sensors to detect AFB1 in food. An ultrasensitive electrochemical aptasensor for AFB1 analysis was constructed using carboxylated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (cMWCNTs) and iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles (NP) on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The peptide bond formation by EDC coupling between the aptamer and cMWCNTs-Fe3O4 NP composite exhibited a strong anodic redox response from AFB1 using cyclic voltammetry (CV) in this study. Applying differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), the GCE/cMWCNTs-Fe3O4 NP aptasensor exhibited very low limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) of 0.43 fg mL−1 and 1.44 fg mL−1 respectively over a calibration ranging from 0.50 fg mL−1 to 5.00 fg mL−1. For actual sample analysis, excellent spike recoveries from 95 to 105% were obtained for corn and rice flour. Single particle ICP-MS (spICP-MS) confirmed the average mass-based diameter of the synthesized Fe3O4 NPs to be in the nano-range (d ≈ 20 nm), the properties of which are essential for the facilitation of strong electron transfer in DPV sensing. Finally, density functional theory and molecular docking studies predicted the sensing mechanism and supported deductions based on the AFB1 capture by the employed aptamer respectively. As part of South Africa’s quality control and regulatory frameworks, this study aims to contribute toward the prevention of AFB1 exposure in foods.
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spelling doaj.art-c1398e36776b47afaade4c5951e663de2023-12-10T06:17:27ZengElsevierBiosensors and Bioelectronics: X2590-13702023-12-0115100416A novel MB-tagged aptasensor for Aflatoxin B1 detection in food using Fe3O4 nanoparticles substantiated with in silico modellingLyndon Naidoo0Gloria Ebube Uwaya1Florian Meier2Krishna Bisetty3Department of Chemistry, Durban University of Technology, P.O. Box 1334, Durban, 4000, South AfricaDepartment of Chemistry, Durban University of Technology, P.O. Box 1334, Durban, 4000, South AfricaPostnova Analytics GmbH, Rankine-Str. 1 86899, Landsberg, GermanyDepartment of Chemistry, Durban University of Technology, P.O. Box 1334, Durban, 4000, South Africa; Corresponding author.Aspergillus fungi species found in wheat, maize, rice, and other agricultural products produce the carcinogenic mycotoxin known as Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), which can cause cancer in animals and humans. Consequently, recent interest has surged regarding the need for inexpensive, selective, and sensitive sensors to detect AFB1 in food. An ultrasensitive electrochemical aptasensor for AFB1 analysis was constructed using carboxylated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (cMWCNTs) and iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles (NP) on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The peptide bond formation by EDC coupling between the aptamer and cMWCNTs-Fe3O4 NP composite exhibited a strong anodic redox response from AFB1 using cyclic voltammetry (CV) in this study. Applying differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), the GCE/cMWCNTs-Fe3O4 NP aptasensor exhibited very low limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) of 0.43 fg mL−1 and 1.44 fg mL−1 respectively over a calibration ranging from 0.50 fg mL−1 to 5.00 fg mL−1. For actual sample analysis, excellent spike recoveries from 95 to 105% were obtained for corn and rice flour. Single particle ICP-MS (spICP-MS) confirmed the average mass-based diameter of the synthesized Fe3O4 NPs to be in the nano-range (d ≈ 20 nm), the properties of which are essential for the facilitation of strong electron transfer in DPV sensing. Finally, density functional theory and molecular docking studies predicted the sensing mechanism and supported deductions based on the AFB1 capture by the employed aptamer respectively. As part of South Africa’s quality control and regulatory frameworks, this study aims to contribute toward the prevention of AFB1 exposure in foods.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590137023001139Aflatoxin B1Electrochemical aptasensorFe3O4 NPsDensity functional theoryMolecular docking
spellingShingle Lyndon Naidoo
Gloria Ebube Uwaya
Florian Meier
Krishna Bisetty
A novel MB-tagged aptasensor for Aflatoxin B1 detection in food using Fe3O4 nanoparticles substantiated with in silico modelling
Biosensors and Bioelectronics: X
Aflatoxin B1
Electrochemical aptasensor
Fe3O4 NPs
Density functional theory
Molecular docking
title A novel MB-tagged aptasensor for Aflatoxin B1 detection in food using Fe3O4 nanoparticles substantiated with in silico modelling
title_full A novel MB-tagged aptasensor for Aflatoxin B1 detection in food using Fe3O4 nanoparticles substantiated with in silico modelling
title_fullStr A novel MB-tagged aptasensor for Aflatoxin B1 detection in food using Fe3O4 nanoparticles substantiated with in silico modelling
title_full_unstemmed A novel MB-tagged aptasensor for Aflatoxin B1 detection in food using Fe3O4 nanoparticles substantiated with in silico modelling
title_short A novel MB-tagged aptasensor for Aflatoxin B1 detection in food using Fe3O4 nanoparticles substantiated with in silico modelling
title_sort novel mb tagged aptasensor for aflatoxin b1 detection in food using fe3o4 nanoparticles substantiated with in silico modelling
topic Aflatoxin B1
Electrochemical aptasensor
Fe3O4 NPs
Density functional theory
Molecular docking
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590137023001139
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