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In order to develop a sensitive immunoassay for Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) monitoring, a hybridoma secreting anti-AFB1 monoclonal antibody with high binding affinity was screened. A new type of CdTe/CdS/ZnS quantum dot was synthesized and conjugated with an artificial antigen for use as a fluorescent probe in a simple one-step fluorescence immunoassay (FLISA). The developed FLISA allowed a sensitive determination of AFB1 in cereal samples in a wide linear range, from 0.08 to 1.97 ng mL -1 , with a detection limit of 0.01 ng mL -1 in cereal samples. The corresponding immunoglobulin genes of the Fab fragment were cloned and sequenced, and expression of Fab was successfully verified in HEK293 cells, with a K D value of 1.09 × 10 -7  mol L -1 for AFB1. To investigate the interactions between the antibody and AFB1, molecular docking, molecular dynamic simulation, and quantum-chemical computation were performed on AFB1 and a homology model of the Fab fragment. Our results showed that residues Ser32, Trp93, and Trp98 played the most important roles in the binding through hydrogen bonds formation, Pi-Pi stacked/Pi-alkyl interactions, and van der Waals interactions. In addition, the electrostatic potential study of AFB1 demonstrated that electrostatic interactions also played an important role in the recognition process. Results from theoretical studies provide guidance for hapten design and antibody improvement through genetic engineering., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

CdTe/CdS/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) were synthesized in aqueous phase and conjugated with a new anti-zearalenone (ZEN) monoclonal antibody. Using this novel fluorescent probe, a fluoroimmunoassay (FLISA) and a rapid immunochromatographic strip (ICTS) were developed for the detection of ZEN in maize. Our proposed FLISA allowed for ZEN determination in the range of 0.038-0.977 ng/mL with an IC 50 of 0.162 ng/mL and a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.012 ng/mL occurring in maize. The rapid ICTS had a visual LOD of 1.0 ng/mL in buffer solution and 1.5 ng/mL in maize extract. These two QDs-based immunoassays were all successfully verified by commercial ELISA kits. The results confirmed that: firstly, the FLISA can be used as a robust method for the sensitive detection of ZEN; and secondly, the ICTS is ideally suited for rapidly screening large numbers of samples., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Zearalenone (ZEN) is a type of estrogenic mycotoxin commonly found in cereals. In order to satisfy the need for ultrasensitive detection of ZEN, we developed two novel magnetic nanobeads (MNBs)-based fluoroimmunoassays using protein G (PG) as recognition binder on the sensing interface. One proposed facile strategy is based on a first capture last react (FCLR) procedure while the other is a first react last capture (FRLC) format. Specifically, CdTe/CdS/ZnS quantum dots were synthesized and modified to antigen (OVA-ZEN) as the signal probes. The PG modified MNBs specifically captured the fragment crystallizable region of immunoglobulin G (IgG) with a level of orientation while avoiding the destruction of antibody’s binding sites caused by chemical coupling. Under the optimized conditions, the detection limits of 0.019 ng mL −1 and 0.049 ng mL −1 in the extract solution were obtained for the FCLR and FRLC, respectively. Furthermore, the established methods proved to be successful in detecting ZEN in real cereal samples with the detection limits being 0.6 μg kg −1 and 1.5 μg kg −1 in the FCLR and FRLC, respectively. The performance of the proposed assays was evaluated utilizing commercial ELISA kits with satisfactory results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structure-switching aptamer-based biosensors (aptasensors) provide a promising strategy for real-time or near real-time monitoring of analytes in vivo, owing to their reversibility, the versatility of methods available to engineer the aptamer switches, and the ability to tune their dynamic range. Monitoring cell-to-cell communication through cytokine secretions has enormous value in biology and medicine. However, cytokine detection is challenging due to the extremely dynamic, transient cytokine secretion process, and typically low abundances in physiological conditions. Here, we summarize recent advances in structure-switching signaling aptamer-based biosensing with specific focus on cytokine sensing. This review begins with the survey of cytokine-specific aptamers followed by the designs of elegant sensing platforms based on structure-switching aptamers with different signal readouts such as optic, electrochemistry, and other types. We describe the strategies of signal amplification in aptasensors, and highlight future perspectives of aptasensors for real-time or near real-time detection of cytokines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ECL properties and application of a novel luminescent material molybdenum disulfide-graphene quantum dots (MoS 2 -GQDs) hybrid nanocomposite was reported for the first time. The hybridization of MoS 2 and GQDs endowed nanocomposite with structural and compositional advantages for boosting the ECL performance of GQDs. Impressively, the ECL could be remarkable enhanced using MoS 2 -GQDs hybrid nanocomposite, which was ∼13, ∼185 and ∼596-folds larger than the ECL intensity of GQDs, MoS 2 modified electrodes and bare electrode, respectively. Subsequently, as a sensing platform, the MoS 2 -GQDs hybrid nanocomposite was applied to fabricate molecularly imprinted electrochemiluminescence sensor for the ultrasensitive and selective determination of 2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid. Under optimal conditions, the detection limit of the prepared sensor was 5.5 pmol L −1 (S/N = 3) within a linear concentration range of 10 pmol L −1 –0.1 μmol L −1 . The developped sensor exhibited high sensitivity, good selectivity, reproducibility and stability, suggesting the potential for detecting pesticides and veterinary drugs at trace levels in food safety and environmental control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]