Smartphone-integrated ratiometric sensing platform based on dual-emitting electrospun MOF@[Ru(byp)3]2+ nanofibers for effective detection and adsorption of aflatoxin B1

Abstract

A portable, sensitive detector for the rapid detection of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) without using biomass has been a research focal point. However, the previously documented methods were seldom applied for the simultaneous detection and elimination of AFB1 in food. In this work, the blue emission of a metal–organic framework (MOF) was selected as the fluorescence response signal, and the red fluorescence of [Ru(bpy)3]2+ was used as the reference signal. A dual-mode electrospun nanofibers ratiometric fluorescence probe (MOF@[Ru(bpy)3]2+/PAN NFs) was constructed for the first time for the quantitative detection and adsorption of AFB1. Due to the large surface area of the porous PAN NFs, these could transport MOF@Ru. AFB1 exposure led to noticeable color shift from red to blue through electron transfer. The good linear ranged of the probe for AFB1 detection of 0.0–40.0 μM and a low limit of detection of 3.05 ppb. Smartphone-integrated ratiometric sensing platform with a 5.51 ppb limit of detection was developed based on the fluorescent color change of electrospun film with AFB1. The probe was used to detect and adsorb AFB1 in peanut samples, and low relative standard deviation and satisfactory recovery rates were realized. Futher, by this speedy process, around 60 % of AFB1 could be eliminated within 30 min. Thus, the synergistic detection and removal of AFB1 is realized by using porous fluorescent MOF@Ru/PAN NFs. Moreover, the smartphone-based platform open new avenues for the on-site rapid visual quantitative detection and removal of toxins, and this is important for food security and environmental conservation applications.