Cauliflower-Inspired 3D SERS Substrate for Multiple Mycotoxins Detection

Abstract

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is a promising analytical tool, but simultaneous detection of multiple targets using SERS remains a challenge. Herein, a cauliflower-inspired 3D SERS substrate with intense hot spots was prepared through sputtering Au nanoparticles (Au NPs) on the surface of polydimethylsiloxane coated anodic aluminum oxide (PDMS@AAO) complex substrate. As a result, the cauliflower-inspired 3D SERS substrate achieved the highest SERS activities at a sputtering time of 8 min. Under the optimal conditions, this SERS substrate possessed a low detection limit of 10–12 M, excellent enhancement uniformity (relative standard deviation, RSD = 4.57%) and high enhancement factor (2.2 × 106) for 4-mercaptobenzoic acid (4-MBA). Furthermore, the results of Raman showed that the 3D-Nanocauliflower SERS substrates could realize the simultaneous label-free detection for three mycotoxins (aflatoxin B1, deoxynivalenol, and zearalenone) in maize for the first time. It behaved good linear relationship between the concentrations and Raman intensities of aflatoxin B1, zearalenone, and deoxynivalenol. For the three mycotoxins, this method exhibited the limit of detection (LOD) of 1.8, 47.7, and 24.8 ng/mL (S/N = 3), respectively. The 3D-Nanocauliflower SERS substrates with dense hot spots presented remarkable SERS effect and activity, which could be act as a potential candidate for SERS substrate applied in the rapid and label-free detection.

Preparation of Monolayer Photonic Crystals from Ag Nanobulge-Deposited SiO2 Particles as Substrates for Reproducible SERS Assay of Trace Thiol Pesticide

“…After the cooperation of a surface plasmon polarization (SPP) mechanism with a hotspot effect existing between the metallic nanogaps [3], SERS can increase the sensitivity up to 10 8 -fold in the best case, enabling the detection of even a single molecule [3,4]. It could be also applicable to the analysis of foods [4][5][6][7][8], environmental pollutants [4], and various biological samples 10 8 -fold in the best case, enabling the detection of even a single molecule [3,4]. It could be also applicable to the analysis of foods [4][5][6][7][8], environmental pollutants [4], and various biological samples in life sciences [2,3,9].…”

“…After the cooperation of a surface plasmon polarization (SPP) mechanism with a hotspot effect existing between the metallic nanogaps [ 3 ], SERS can increase the sensitivity up to 10 8 -fold in the best case, enabling the detection of even a single molecule [ 3 , 4 ]. It could be also applicable to the analysis of foods [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ], environmental pollutants [ 4 ], and various biological samples in life sciences [ 2 , 3 , 9 ]. However, in these practical applications, SERS easily encounters the issues of unrepeatable and/or irreproducible measurements.…”

Multiplex surface-enhanced Raman scattering detection of deoxynivalenol and ochratoxin A with a linear polymer affinity agent

“…In much of the multiplex sensing literature focused on other targets, the collected data have required post-measurement chemometric analyses to distinguish between each target. 34 In this work the toxins' spectral signals do not require additional separation or filtering as seen with many other immunosensors. [35][36][37] This sensing scheme aims to provide molecule-specific information regarding the target and the capture agent.…”

“…Additionally, previous literature reports of multiplex detection required multiple affinity agents, such as aptamers and antibodies, to enable such detection. 34,38 Each affinity agent is incredibly specific to the target and must often be paired with SERS tags or labels to achieve low limits of detection. [39][40][41] Thus, the use of a single non-traditional affinity agent, such as the polymer reported herein which relies on non-specific interactions, could remediate the need for multiple affinity agents.…”

Small Molecular Contaminant and Microorganism Can Be Simultaneously Detected Based on Nanobody-Phage: Using Carcinogen Aflatoxin and Its Main Fungal Aspergillus Section Flavi spp. in Stored Maize for Demonstration

“…Simultaneous detection technology has been becoming a hot topic in analytical chemistry. Many methods have been reported for simultaneous detection of multi small molecular contaminants such as mycotoxins (Li et al, 2013(Li et al, , 2019Zhang et al, 2016;Wang et al, 2017a), pesticide residues (Bagheri et al, 2016;Wang et al, 2017b), and veterinary drugs (Taranova et al, 2015;Dasenaki et al, 2016;Zhu et al, 2016). Also, a lot of methods were described for simultaneous detection of multi microorganisms such as pathogenic bacteria (Li et al, 2015;Yoo et al, 2015;Vaisocherova-Lisalova et al, 2016), fungal pathogens (Playford et al, 2006;Priyanka et al, 2015;Rahn et al, 2016), and even varied pathogens that belong to different kingdoms (Leber et al, 2016).…”