Monitoring zearalenone in corn flour utilizing novel self-enhanced electrochemiluminescence aptasensor based on NGQDs-NH2-Ru@SiO2 luminophore

Abstract Accurate and early diagnosis of mycotoxin is particularly significant to the food and agricultural product safety. In the present work, a sensitive and effective monitoring method for zearalenone (ZEN) was exploited based on a novel self-enhanced electrochemiluminescence (ECL) aptasensor. The self-enhanced lumonophore was compounded by electrostatically combining amine-functionalized Ru(bpy) 3 2+ -doped silica nanoparticles (NH 2 -Ru@SiO 2 NPs) and nitrogen doped graphene quantum dots (NGQDs) together. Since the emitter and co-reactant simultaneously existed in the same nanoparticle, shortened electron-transfer distance and decreased energy loss was obtained. Therefore, self-enhanced ECL aptasensor based on the novel complex expressed the widest linear range of 10 fg mL −1 –10 ng mL −1 and the lowest detection limit of 1 fg mL −1 for ZEN detection. More importantly, ZEN produced during the mildew process of corn flour was monitored by the developed aptasensor, which exhibited superior determination and potential application in real samples.