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In this work, a kind of homogeneous electrochemical aptasensor based on DNA assembly was designed to detect zearalenone (ZEN). The three DNA strands of ZEN aptamer (Apt), complementary strand DNA1, and complementary strand DNA2 are first mixed to form DNA duplex structure, which cannot be cleaved by RecJf Exonuclease (RecJf Exo) and hinders the electron transfer after addition to the electrode surface. With the existence of ZEN, the combination of ZEN and Apt destroys the duplex structure, and RecJf Exo can catalyze the cleavage of Apt to form short DNA strands, which accelerates the electron transfer after addition to the electrode surface. According to the current difference with or without ZEN, the detection purpose is achieved. The linear relationship between I and LgCZEN was found in the range of 5.0 × 10−6 ng/ml to 50 ng/ml, and the detection limit is as low as 0.51 fg/ml. The prepared sensor showed high selectivity, favorable repeatability, and reproducibility and was effectively used for testing the spiked corn flour and beer samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zearalenone (ZEN) contamination has attracted global attention of the food industry because of its toxicity to human body, so sensitive and rapid ZEN assays are critically important. Herein, methylene blue (MB) and Ag+ were used as dual-signal probes to design a ratiometric electrochemical aptasensor for facilely and accurately detection of ZEN, and an Au@Pt/Fe-N-C nanocomposites-induced signal amplification strategy was introduced to improve the sensitivity of the aptasensor. The Au@Pt/Fe-N-C nanocomposites had larger surface area and higher conductivity than single component materials. Firstly, DNA1 was modified on the gold electrode (AuE), so the signal probe Ag+ can produce a strong I Ag+ by forming C-Ag+-C structure with DNA1. Simultaneously, the system MB-Au@Pt/Fe-N-C-dsDNA (containing aptamer and DNA2) cannot modify to AuE to obtain I MB. The aptasensor was incubated with ZEN that can compete with aptamer, and the released MB-Au@Pt/Fe-N-C-DNA2 can be modified on AuE by hybridization between DNA1 and DNA2, so as to generate a strong I MB. Au@Pt or Fe-N-C. The intensity of I Ag+ decreased because it cannot combine with DNA1. The signal ratio I MB /I Ag+ exhibited a good linear relationship with lgC ZEN in the concentration of ZEN in the ranging of 1 × 10−5-10 ng/mL, and the limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantitation (LOQ) were calculated as 5 fg/mL and 16.7 fg/mL, respectively. The successfully determination of ZEN in corn flour samples demonstrated that the ratiometric electrochemical aptasensor had excellent veracity, reliability and potential application prospects. A methylene blue and Ag+ ratiometric electrochemical aptasensor with two simultaneous relative change signal probes was developed, and the Au@Pt/Fe-N-C nanocomposites-assisted signal amplification strategy was used to improve the sensitivity of the method. The biosensor had a detection limit as low as 5 fg/mL. [Display omitted] • A novel Au@Pt/Fe-N-C nanocomposites was prepared as an electrochemical signal amplification strategy. • A ratiometric electrochemical aptasensor was constructed based on methylene blue and Ag+ as ratio signal probes. • The proposed aptasensor was successfully applied to monitor zearalenone in corn flour samples. • Ratiometric signal sensor has excellent veracity, reliability and potential application prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]