Aflatoxin B1 Detection Using a Highly-Sensitive Molecularly-Imprinted Electrochemical Sensor Based on an Electropolymerized Metal Organic Framework

• Main Authors: Mengjuan Jiang, Mohamed Braiek, Anca Florea, Amani Chrouda, Carole Farre, Anne Bonhomme, Francois Bessueille, Francis Vocanson, Aidong Zhang, Nicole Jaffrezic-Renault
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2015-09-01
• Series: Toxins
• Subjects: electrochemical sensors; aflatoxin B1; molecularly imprinted polymers; metal organic framework; gold nanoparticles
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/7/9/3540

A sensitive electrochemical molecularly-imprinted sensor was developed for the detection of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), by electropolymerization of p-aminothiophenol-functionalized gold nanoparticles in the presence of AFB1 as a template molecule. The extraction of the template leads to the formation of cavities that are able to specifically recognize and bind AFB1 through π-π interactions between AFB1 molecules and aniline moities. The performance of the developed sensor for the detection of AFB1 was investigated by linear sweep voltammetry using a hexacyanoferrate/hexacyanoferrite solution as a redox probe, the electron transfer rate increasing when the concentration of AFB1 increases, due to a p-doping effect. The molecularly-imprinted sensor exhibits a broad linear range, between 3.2 fM and 3.2 µM, and a quantification limit of 3 fM. Compared to the non-imprinted sensor, the imprinting factor was found to be 10. Selectivity studies were also performed towards the binding of other aflatoxins and ochratoxin A, proving good selectivity.