Electrochemical/visual dual-readout aptasensor for Ochratoxin A detection integrated into a miniaturized paper-based analytical device

Portable dual-mode paper chips for highly sensitive and rapid determination of aflatoxin B1 via an aptamer-gated MOFs

Paper chip as a representative microfluidic device has been mushroomed for rapid identification of contaminants in agro-food. However, the sensitivity and accuracy have still been challenged by inevitable background noise or interference in food matrix. Herein, we designed and fabricated a dual-mode paper chip (DPC) by assembling a patterned paper electrode with a platinum nanoparticles-treated colorimetric region through a flow channel. Dual-mode outputs were guided by an aptamer-gated UiO-66-NH2 metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). UiO-66-NH2 loaded with 3, 3', 5, 5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) was controlled by a switch comprised of CdS quantum dots-aptamer. Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1, a kind of carcinogenic mycotoxin) target came and induced TMB release, triggering colorimetric and ECL signals on DPC, ultra-high sensitivity with a detection limit of 7.8 fg/mL was realized. The practicability of the DPC was also confirmed by spiking AFB1 in real corn samples. This portable paper-based device provides an ideal rapid detection platform tailored for diverse food contaminants analysis.

Construction of dual-signal output sensing platform for different scene of rapid and sensitive ochratoxin A detection in corn

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) is a highly sensitive and fast analytical method that can be used at low concentrations, while photoelectrochromic is a simple and low-cost method primarily utilized for high concentration detection. Therefore, we have developed a dual-signal output sensing platform based on both PEC and photoelectrochromism for rapid and sensitive OTA detection. The sensing platform is divided into signal generation (SG) region and signal output (SO) region, which modified with WO3/BiVO4 photoactive nanocomposites and polyaniline (PANI), respectively. By irradiating the SG region, photogenerated electrons are generated and injected into the SO region through the conductive pathway, resulting in a decrease in surface blue polyaniline and a change to green. The smart device can accurately measure the RGB-Green values, enabling the construction of a photochromic visual sensing platform. After immobilizing the OTA aptamer in the SG region, a linear correlation was observed between the concentration of OTA and the RGB-Green value within the range of 20 ng/L ∼250 μg/L. The detection limit was determined to be 8.33 ng/L (S/N = 3). Furthermore, for a more sensitive OTA detection, a PEC sensing platform was developed utilizing the SG region as a photoanode, exhibiting a linear correlation in the range of 2 pg/L∼300 μg/L with a detection limit of 0.8 pg/L (S/N = 3). The detection of these two modes under the requirement of the international standard for the maximum limit realizes the sensitive OTA detection. The RGB-Green is verified to PEC signal, which improves the detection accuracy. The sensing platform has several advantages and is suitable for various application scenarios.

Simultaneous detection of multiple mycotoxins using MXene-based electrochemical aptasensor array and a self-developed multi-channel portable device

In response to the pressing need for highly efficient simultaneous detection of multiple mycotoxins, which are often found co-occurring in food raw materials and feed, an MXene-based electrochemical aptasensor array (MBEAA) was developed. This aptasensor array utilizes high-specificity aptamers as recognition elements, enabling the capture of electrical signal changes in the presence of target mycotoxins. Based on this platform, a multi-channel portable electrochemical device, enabling rapid, cost-effective, and simultaneous detection of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), ochratoxin A (OTA), and zealenone (ZEN) was further developed. The developed system boasts a wide detection range of 1.0 × 10-1 to 10.0 ng mL-1, with remarkable performance characterized by ultra-low detection limits of 41.2 pg mL-1, 27.6 pg mL-1, and 33.0 pg mL-1 for AFB1, OTA, and ZEN, respectively. Successfully applied in corn samples, this method offers a portable, easy-to-operate, and cost-effective solution for simultaneous multi-mycotoxin detection. Moreover, the application of the self-developed detection system could be expanded for simultaneous detection of many different targets when their specific aptamers or antibodies were available.

Integrated triple signal amplification strategy for ultrasensitive electrochemical detection of gastric cancer-related microRNA utilizing MoS2-based nanozyme, hybridization chain reaction, and horseradish peroxidase

Early diagnosis and treatment of gastric cancer (GC) play a vital role in improving efficacy, reducing mortality and prolonging patients' lives. Given the importance of early detection of gastric cancer, an electrochemical biosensor was developed for the ultrasensitive detection of miR-19b-3p by integrating MoS2-based nanozymes, hybridization chain reaction (HCR) with enzyme catalyzed reaction. The as-prepared MoS2-based nanocomposites were used as substrate materials to construct nanoprobes, which can simultaneously load probe DNA and HCR initiator for signal amplification. Moreover, the MoS2-based nanocomposites are also employed as nanozymes to amplify electrochemical response. The presence of miR-19b-3p induced the assembly of MoS2-based nanoprobes on the electrode surface, which can activate in-situ HCR reaction to load a large number of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) for signal amplification. Coupling with the co-catalytic ability of HRP and MoS2-based nanozymes, the designed electrochemical biosensor can detect as low as 0.7 aM miR-19b-3p. More importantly, this biosensor can efficiently analyze miR-19b-3p in clinical samples from healthy people and gastric cancer patients due to its excellent sensitivity and selectivity, suggesting that this biosensor has a potential application in early diagnosis of disease.

Decentralized food safety and authentication on cellulose paper-based analytical platform: A review

Food safety and authenticity analysis play a pivotal role in guaranteeing food quality, safeguarding public health, and upholding consumer trust. In recent years, significant social progress has presented fresh challenges in the realm of food analysis, underscoring the imperative requirement to devise innovative and expedient approaches for conducting on-site assessments. Consequently, cellulose paper-based devices (PADs) have come into the spotlight due to their characteristics of microchannels and inherent capillary action. This review summarizes the recent advances in cellulose PADs in various food products, comprising various fabrication strategies, detection methods such as mass spectrometry and multi-mode detection, sampling and processing considerations, as well as applications in screening food safety factors and assessing food authenticity developed in the past 3 years. According to the above studies, cellulose PADs face challenges such as limited sample processing, inadequate multiplexing capabilities, and the requirement for workflow integration, while emerging innovations, comprising the use of simplified sample pretreatment techniques, the integration of advanced nanomaterials, and advanced instruments such as portable mass spectrometer and the innovation of multimodal detection methods, offer potential solutions and are highlighted as promising directions. This review underscores the significant potential of cellulose PADs in facilitating decentralized, cost-effective, and simplified testing methodologies to maintain food safety standards. With the progression of interdisciplinary research, cellulose PADs are expected to become essential platforms for on-site food safety and authentication analysis, thereby significantly enhancing global food safety for consumers.

Advances in Aptamer-Based Biosensors for the Detection of Foodborne Mycotoxins

Foodborne mycotoxins (FBMTs) are toxins produced by food itself or during processing and transportation that pose an enormous threat to public health security. However, traditional instrumental and chemical methods for detecting toxins have shortcomings, such as high operational difficulty, time consumption, and high cost, that limit their large-scale applications. In recent years, aptamer-based biosensors have become a new tool for food safety risk assessment and monitoring due to their high affinity, good specificity, and fast response. In this review, we focus on the progress of single-mode and dual-mode aptasensors in basic research and device applications over recent years. Furthermore, we also point out some problems in the current detection strategies, with the aim of stimulating future toxin detection systems for a transition toward ease of operation and rapid detection.

Multimodal biosensing systems based on metal nanoparticles

Biosensors are currently among the most commonly used devices for analysing biomarkers and play an important role in environmental detection, food safety, and disease diagnosis. Researchers have developed multimodal biosensors instead of single-modal biosensors to meet increasing sensitivity, accuracy, and stability requirements. Metal nanoparticles (MNPs) are beneficial for preparing core probes for multimodal biosensors because of their excellent physical and chemical properties, such as easy regulation and modification, and because they can integrate diverse sensing strategies. This review mainly summarizes the excellent physicochemical properties of MNPs applied as biosensing probes and the principles of commonly used MNP-based multimodal sensing strategies. Recent applications and possible improvements of multimodal biosensors based on MNPs are also described, among which on-site inspection and sensitive detection are particularly important. The current challenges and prospects for multimodal biosensors based on MNPs may provide readers with a new perspective on this field.

Fluorescence/visual aptasensor based on Au/MOF nanocomposite for accurate and convenient aflatoxin B1 detection

A dual-mode fluorescence/visual aptasensor was developed for straightforward and accurate determination of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) based on an Au/metal-organic framework (Au/MOF) composite. Aptamer-modified Au/Fe3O4 (Apt/Au/Fe3O4) served as the recognition element, and Au/MOF modified with complementary chains and 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (cDNA/TMB/Au/MOF) acted as the fluorescence and visual probes. These components are integrated to form conjugates (Apt/Au/Fe3O4-cDNA/TMB/Au/MOF). Upon the introduction of AFB1, some cDNA/TMB/Au/MOF dissociated from Apt/Au/Fe3O4, enabling the use of detached probes for visual detection. The undecomposed conjugates were isolated magnetically for use in fluorescence detection. As the AFB1 concentration increases, the visual signal intensifies and fluorescence intensity diminishes. Thus, the proposed aptasensor achieves the simultaneous fluorescence and visual determination of AFB1, obviating the need for material and reagent substitutions. The detection limits were established at 0.07 ng mL-1 for the fluorescence mode and 0.08 ng mL-1 for the visual mode. The effectiveness of the aptasensor was further validated by quantifying AFB1 in real samples.

Recent advances in nanomaterial-based optical biosensors for food safety applications: Ochratoxin-A detection, as case study

Global population growth tremendously impacts the global food industry, endangering food safety and quality. Mycotoxins, particularly Ochratoxin-A (OTA), emerge as a food chain production threat, since it is produced by fungus that contaminates different food species and products. Beyond this, OTA exhibits a possible human toxicological risk that can lead to carcinogenic and neurological diseases. A selective, sensitive, and reliable OTA biodetection approach is essential to ensure food safety. Current detection approaches rely on accurate and time-consuming laboratory techniques performed at the end of the food production process, or lateral-flow technologies that are rapid and on-site, but do not provide quantitative and precise OTA concentration measurements. Nanoengineered optical biosensors arise as an avant-garde solution, providing high sensing performance, and a fast and accurate OTA biodetection screening, which is attractive for the industrial market. This review core presents and discusses the recent advancements in optical OTA biosensing, considering engineered nanomaterials, optical transduction principle and biorecognition methodologies. Finally, the major challenges and future trends are discussed, and current patented OTA optical biosensors are emphasized for a particular promising detection method.

Colorimetric and fluorescent independent dual "signal on" biosensor for accurate detection of ochratoxin A based on aptamer-triggered biocatalytic reactions

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a hazardous food contaminant with significant health risks. Dual-channel OTA detection is noted for its cross-reference capability and high accuracy. Still, challenges in addressing in-system corrections and "signal off" related false positives and limited signal gains remain. Herein, we developed a dual-channel "signal on" aptasensor with one recognition process and two independent signal outputs for OTA analysis. The OTA aptamer binds to magnetic beads (MBs) and partially hybridizes with a complementary-trigger (cDNA-Trigger) sequence. Adding OTA disrupts the duplex sequence, leading to G-quadruplex (G4) formation and enrichment on the MBs, which then interacts with hemin to catalyze a color signal. Concurrently, the freed cDNA-Trigger catalyzes an enzyme-free DNA circuit, producing a fluorescence signal. The magnetic enrichment and signal amplification strategies make the proposed assay demonstrate excellent sensitivity toward OTA, with limits of detection (LOD) of 0.017 pM in the fluorescence channel and 48.1 pM in the colorimetric channel. Both channels have effectively detected OTA in grape juice and baijiu, demonstrating their applicability and reliability. Moreover, given the widespread use of smartphones globally, a mini-program with a self-correction function was designed to facilitate on-site colorimetric channel monitoring, making OTA detection more accessible and user-friendly.

A G-quadruplex-assisted target-responsive dual-mode aptasensor based on copper nanoclusters synthesized in situ in a DNA hydrogel for ultrasensitive detection of ochratoxin A

Developing ultrasensitive sensing platforms for trace ochratoxin A (OTA) in food safety is still challenging. Herein, we presented a novel dual-mode sensing strategy for fluorescence and colorimetric detection of OTA by combining the target-responsive hemin-encapsulated and copper nanoclusters (CuNCs) functionalized DNA hydrogel. Through simple assembly and in situ synthesis methods, fluorescence CuNCs are synthesized and modified on the 3D hydrophilic network structure of DNA cross-linked. OTA specifically recognized by Apt-linker can control the collapse of hydrogel, resulting in the fluorescence quenching of CuNCs and release of coated hemin. Interestingly, OTA could trigger Apt-linker conformational changes to form G-quadruplex structures, allowing the released hemin to form G-quadruplex/hemin DNAzyme via self-assembly. Fluorescence signal amplification could be achieved through further fluorescence quenching of CuNCs caused by DNAzyme-catalyzed hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) because of the peroxidase activity of DNAzyme. Simultaneously, DNAzyme could catalyze the H2O2-mediated oxidation of TMB to provide colorimetric signal. Thereafter, the DNA-CuNCs hydrogel exhibited low detection limits of 3.49 pg/mL in fluorescence mode and 0.25 ng/mL in colorimetric modality. Real sample analyses of foodstuffs showed satisfactory results, providing prospective potential for monitoring mycotoxin contaminant.

Paper-based microfluidic device for selective detection of peanut allergen Ara h1 applying black phosphorus-Au nanocomposites for signal amplification

This paper developed a portable microfluidic paper-based analysis device (μ-PAD) combined with the electrochemical technique for efficient and sensitive detection of peanut allergen Ara h1. The proposed μ-PAD works based on the variation of differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) response current induced by peanut allergen Ara h1. Black phosphorus (BP)-Au nanocomposites were introduced both to improve the electron transfer rate at the electrode interface for signal amplification, and to immobilize the specific Ara h1 aptamers through Au-S bonding to recognize the target in food matrices. This μ-PAD had good specificity and detection stability for Ara h1 allergen and could complete the entire analysis process within 20 min, achieving a wide linear response range (25-800 ng mL-1) and a low detection limit (LOD, 11.8 ng mL-1). In the Ara h1 allergen detection applied to real peanut products (cookies, milk, and bread), the constructed μ-PAD obtained acceptable recoveries (93.50%-101.86%) with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of 0.36-2.97% (n = 3), with a good correlation with the ELISA results (R2 = 0.9956). Therefore, the portable μ-PAD based on BP-Au nanocomposites was demonstrated to provide an effective strategy for rapid analysis and screening of Ara h1 allergen in food, which has broad application prospects.

A novel Recjf Exo signal amplification strategy based on bioinformatics-assisted truncated aptamer for efficient fluorescence detection of AFB1

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a typical mycotoxin that signifacntly endangers public health and economy. In this study, we systematically studied the interaction of aptamers with AFB1 using circular dichroism, molecular dynamics, molecular docking, and fluorescence analysis. The truncated sequence aptamers were screened using molecular docking. We successfully obtained the AFB1 aptamer with higher affinity and its truncated form was enhanced by 5.2-fold compared to the initial AFB1 aptamer. In addition, for rapid detection of AFB1, we designed a fluorescent nano-adaptor sensing platform using RecJf exonuclease signal amplification strategy based on the optimal aptamer. The aptasensor showed satisfactory sensitivity towards AFB1 with a linear detection range of 1-400 ng/mL and a detection limit of 0.57 ng/mL. The aptasensor was successfully applied to the determination of AFB1 in soybean oil and corn oil with recoveries of 91.02 %-106.59 % and 87.39 %-110.61 %, respectively. The successful application of the AFB1 aptasensor, developed through bioinformatics truncation of the aptamer, provides a novel approach to creating a cost-effective, eco-friendly, and rapid aptamer sensing platform.

A novel label-free electrochemical immunosensor for the detection of heat shock protein 70 of lung adenocarcinoma cell line following paclitaxel treatment using l-cysteine-functionalized Au@MnO2/MoO3 nanocomposites

The future trend in achieving precision medicine involves the development of non-invasive cancer biomarker sensors that offer high accuracy, low cost, and time-saving benefits for risk clarification, early detection, disease detection, and therapeutic monitoring. A facile approach for the synthesis of MoO3 nanosheets was developed by thermally oxidizing MoS2 nanosheets in air followed by thermal annealing. Subsequently, Au@MnO2 nanocomposites were prepared using a combined hydrothermal process and in situ chemical synthesis. In this study, we present a novel immunosensor design strategy involving the immobilization of antiHSP70 antibodies on Au@MnO2/MoO3 nanocomposites modified on a screen-printed electrode (SPE) using EDC/NHS chemistry. This study establishes HSP70 as a potential biomarker for monitoring therapeutic response during anticancer therapy. Impedance measurements of HSP70 on the Au@MnO2/MoO3/SPE immunosensor using EIS showed an increase in impedance with an increase in HSP70 concentration. The electrochemical immunosensor demonstrated a good linear response in the range of 0.001 to 1000 ng mL-1 with a detection limit of 0.17 pg mL-1 under optimal conditions. Moreover, the immunosensor was effective in detecting HSP70 at low concentrations in a lung adenocarcinoma cell line following Paclitaxel treatment, indicating its potential for early detection of the HSP70 biomarker in organ-on-a-chip and clinical applications.

Construction of an electrochemical-fluorescent dual-mode sensor with a dual-mode signal AgNC probe synthesized from cytosine-rich DNA for OTA detection

Herein, we have used DNA-silver nanocluster (DNA-AgNC) signal probes with both electrochemical and fluorescent signals for the first time to construct an electrochemical-fluorescent dual-mode sensor. The sensor has an easy-to-prepare dual-signal property combined with the magnetic separation technique for dual-mode detection of ochratoxin A (OTA). In the absence of OTA, the DNA strand used to synthesize AgNCs was not available in the system after magnetic separation. DNA-AgNCs probes could not be synthesized in the system, resulting in low fluorescence and electrochemical signals. In the presence of OTA, it led to the shedding of sulfhydryl-modified and cytosine-rich DNA (C-DNA). DNA-AgNCs probes with high fluorescence and electrochemical signals were formed by adding AgNO3 and NaBH4 to the supernatant after magnetic separation. Dual-mode detection of OTA was achieved by the signal response of fluorescence and electrochemistry. The detection ranges were 2.5 × 10-4-50 ng mL-1 and 2.5 × 10-4-25 ng mL-1 in the fluorescence mode and electrochemical mode with detection limits of 0.11 pg mL-1 and 0.025 pg mL-1, respectively. Meanwhile, the dual-mode sensor displayed better specificity, repeatability and reproducibility than conventional electrochemical and fluorescent single-mode sensors. The results of the spiked peanut and wheat flour detection showed that the fluorescence and electrochemical modes of the sensor exhibited satisfactory average recoveries.

Ionic liquids functionalized Fe3O4-based colorimetric biosensor for rapid determination of ochratoxin A

A stainless steel mesh (SSM) with the feature of flexibility was employed as the colorimetric biosensor substrate, and aptamer was bond onto the surface of the SSM. Through the cross-linking of ionic liquids (ILs), AuPt nanoparticles were deposited  onto the surface of Fe3O4 material to obtain a magnetic nanozyme with high peroxidase catalytic activity and rapid color change. Through the competing interaction of OTA and cDNA with aptamer, AuPt@IL@Fe3O4 signal probe was separated to catalyze the 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine/hydrogen peroxide (TMB/H2O2) system to observe the color by bare eye and record the absorbance at 652 nm using a UV-spectrophotometer. Through the study of the catalytic properties on the basis of the Michaelis equation, AuPt@IL@Fe3O4 nanozyme presented a Vmax of 3.85 × 10-8 M s-1 and Km of 0.01 mM. Under the optimized conditions, the linear range of the colorimetric biosensor towards OTA was 5-100 ng mL-1, and the detection limit was 0.078 ng mL-1. This biosensor was applied to beer and corn samples with recoveries of 70.4-102.6% and 93.3-104.7%, respectively. Results showed that this sensor is a portable, rapid, economical, sensitive visual sensing platform towards mycotoxin in real samples.

Advances in aptamers, and application of mycotoxins detection: A review

Mycotoxin contamination in food products can easily cause serious health hazards and economic losses to human beings. How to accurately detect and effectively control mycotoxin contamination has become a global concern. Mycotoxins conventional detection techniques e.g; ELISA, HPLC, have limitations like, low sensitivity, high cost and time-consuming. Aptamer-based biosensing technology has the advantages of high sensitivity, high specificity, wide linear range, high feasibility, and non-destructiveness, which overcomes the shortcomings of conventional analysis techniques. This review summarizes the sequences of mycotoxin aptamers that have been reported so far. Based on the application of four classic POST-SELEX strategies, it also discusses the bioinformatics-assisted POST-SELEX technology in obtaining optimal aptamers. Furthermore, trends in the study of aptamer sequences and their binding mechanisms to targets is also discussed. The latest examples of aptasensor detection of mycotoxins are classified and summarized in detail. Newly developed dual-signal detection, dual-channel detection, multi-target detection and some types of single-signal detection combined with unique strategies or novel materials in recent years are focused. Finally, the challenges and prospects of aptamer sensors in the detection of mycotoxins are discussed. The development of aptamer biosensing technology provides a new approach with multiple advantages for on-site detection of mycotoxins. Although aptamer biosensing shows great development potential, still some challenges and difficulties are there in practical applications. Future research need high focus on the practical applications of aptasensors and the development of convenient and highly automated aptamers. This may lead to the transition of aptamer biosensing technology from laboratory to commercialization.

Coordinating Etching Inspired Synthesis of Fe(OH)3 Nanocages as Mimetic Peroxidase for Fluorescent and Colorimetric Self-Tuning Detection of Ochratoxin A

The development of multifunctional biomimetic nanozymes with high catalytic activity and sensitive response is rapidly advancing. The hollow nanostructures, including metal hydroxides, metal-organic frameworks, and metallic oxides, possess excellent loading capacity and a high surface area-to-mass ratio. This characteristic allows for the exposure of more active sites and reaction channels, resulting in enhanced catalytic activity of nanozymes. In this work, based on the coordinating etching principle, a facile template-assisted strategy for synthesizing Fe(OH)₃ nanocages by using Cu₂O nanocubes as the precursors was proposed. The unique three-dimensional structure of Fe(OH)₃ nanocages endows it with excellent catalytic activity. Herein, in the light of Fe(OH)₃-induced biomimetic nanozyme catalyzed reactions, a self-tuning dual-mode fluorescence and colorimetric immunoassay was successfully constructed for ochratoxin A (OTA) detection. For the colorimetric signal, 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) can be oxidized by Fe(OH)₃ nanocages to form a color response that can be preliminarily identified by the human eye. For the fluorescence signal, the fluorescence intensity of 4-chloro-1-naphthol (4-CN) can be quantitatively quenched by the valence transition of Ferric ion in Fe(OH)₃ nanocages. Due to the significant self-calibration, the performance of the self-tuning strategy for OTA detection was substantially enhanced. Under the optimized conditions, the developed dual-mode platform accomplishes a wide range of 1 ng/L to 5 μg/L with a detection limit of 0.68 ng/L (S/N = 3). This work not only develops a facile strategy for the synthesis of highly active peroxidase-like nanozyme but also achieves promising sensing platform for OTA detection in actual samples.

Bismuth-based metal-organic framework peroxidase-mimic nanozyme: Preparation and mechanism for colorimetric-converted ultra-trace electrochemical sensing of chromium ion

A colorimetric-electrochemical dual-mode analytical method based on bismuth metal-organic framework nanozyme was developed for label-free and trace/ultra-trace Cr⁶⁺ detection. 3D ball-flower shaped bismuth oxide formate (BiOCOOH) was used as the precursor and template to facilely construct the metal-organic framework nanozyme BiO-BDC-NH₂, which possesses intrinsic peroxidase-mimic activity to effectively catalyze the colorless 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine into blue oxidation products in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. Based on Cr⁶⁺ to promote the peroxide-mimic activity of BiO-BDC-NH₂ nanozyme, a colorimetric method for Cr⁶⁺ detection was developed with the detection limit of 0.44 ng mL^-1. Cr⁶⁺ can be electrochemically reduced to Cr³⁺ that would specifically inhibit the peroxidase-mimic activity of BiO-BDC-NH₂ nanozyme. Thus, the colorimetric system for Cr⁶⁺ detection was converted into a low-toxic and signal-off electrochemical sensor. The electrochemical model showed upgraded sensitivity and a lower detection limit of 9.00 pg mL^-1. The dual-model method was developed for selective appropriate sensing instruments in different detection scenarios, which can provide built-in correction for environmental effects, as well as the development and utilization of dual-signal sensing platforms for trace to ultra-trace Cr⁶⁺ rapid assay.

Gold nanocluster-confined covalent organic frameworks as bifunctional probes for electrochemiluminescence and colorimetric dual-response sensing of Pb2

The development of bifunctional signal probes based on a single component is highly desirable for sensitive and simple dual-mode detection of Pb²⁺. Here, novel gold nanocluster-confined covalent organic frameworks (AuNCs@COFs) were fabricated as a bisignal generator to enable electrochemiluminescence (ECL) and colorimetric dual-response sensing. AuNCs with both intrinsic ECL and peroxidase-like activity were confined into the ultrasmall pores of the COFs via an in situ growth method. On the one hand, the space-confinement effect of the COFs closed the ligand motion-induced nonradiative transition channels of the AuNCs. As a result, the AuNCs@COFs exhibited a 3.3-fold enhancement in anodic ECL efficiency compared to the solid-state aggregated AuNCs using triethylamine as the coreactant. On the other hand, due to the outstanding spatial dispersibility of the AuNCs in the structurally ordered COFs, a high density of active catalytic sites and accelerated electron transfer were obtained, leading to the promotion of the enzyme-like catalytic capacity of the composite. To validate its practical applicability, a Pb²⁺-triggered dual-response sensing system was proposed based on the aptamer-regulated ECL and peroxidase-like activity of the AuNCs@COFs. Sensitive determinations down to 7.9 pM for the ECL mode and 0.56 nM for the colorimetric mode were obtained. This work provides an approach for designing single element-based bifunctional signal probes for dual-mode detection of Pb²⁺.

Latest strategies for rapid and point of care detection of mycotoxins in food: A review

Mycotoxins contaminated in agricultural products are often highly carcinogenic and genotoxic to humans. With the streamlining of the food industry chain and the improvement of food safety requirements, the traditional laboratory testing mode is constantly challenged due to the expensive equipment, complex operation steps, and lag in testing results. Therefore, rapid detection methods are urgently needed in the food safety system. This review focuses on the latest strategies that can achieve rapid and on-site testing, with particular attention to the nanomaterials integrated biosensors. To provide researchers with the latest trends and inspiration in the field of rapid detection, we summarize several strategies suitable for point of care testing (POCT) of mycotoxins, including enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA), lateral flow assay (LFA), fluorescence, electrochemistry, and colorimetry assay. POCT-based strategies are all developing towards intelligence and portability, especially when combined with smartphones, making it easier to read signals for intuitive access and analysis of test data. Detection performance of the devices has also improved considerably with the integration of biosensors and nanomaterials.

Simultaneous and Sensitive Detection of Three Pesticides Using a Functional Poly(Sulfobetaine Methacrylate)-Coated Paper-Based Colorimetric Sensor

Chlorpyrifos (CHL), profenofos (PRO) and cypermethrin (CYP) are widely used in combination to increase crop yields. However, these three pesticides can cause serious harm to human health and do not easily degrade. In this study, a novel visible paper sensor has been prepared successfully and different colorimetric reactions were utilized to detect the three pesticides simultaneously. The sensor was constructed by grafting a zwitterionic polymer onto a cellulose filter (CF) and placing it on a glass surface modified with PDMS. The branch shape was designed to form multiple detection areas, which were modified with specific pesticides and corresponding chromogenic reagents. The as-prepared colorimetric platform exhibited high sensitivity, a short detection time, a good linear response and a low detection limit (LOD) for the three pesticides (chlorpyrifos: y = 46.801 - 1.939x, R² = 0.983, LOD = 0.235 mg/L; profenofos: y = 40.068 + 42.5x, R² = 0.988, LOD = 4.891 mg/L; cypermethrin: y = 51.993 + 1.474x, R² = 0.993, LOD = 4.053 mg/L). The comparison of the results obtained by the proposed paper sensor and those obtained by spectrophotometry further revealed the stability and reliability of the paper sensor. In particular, the color intensity of the interaction between the pesticides and coloring agents could be directly observed by the human eye. The consistency of the colorimetric/optical assay was proven in real target pesticide samples. Thus, this sensing strategy provides a portable, cost-effective, accurate and visualized paper platform, which could be suitable for application in the fruit and vegetable industry for monitoring CHL, PRO and CYP in parallel.

"Do it yourself" protocol to fabricate dual-detection paper-based analytical device for salivary biomarker analysis

This paper describes the design and construction of dual microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (dual-μPADs) as a lab-on-paper platform involving a "do-it-yourself" fabrication protocol. The device comprises a colorimetric and electrochemical module to obtain a dual-mode signal readout sensing strategy. A 3D pen polymeric resin was used to prepare graphite carbon-based electrodes and hydrophobic barriers on paper substrates. The proposed carbon-based ink was employed to manufacture electrodes on paper based on a stencil-printing approach, which were further characterized by electrochemical and morphological analyses. The analytical performance of the dual-μPADs was simultaneously evaluated for lactate, pH, nitrite, and salivary amylase (sAA) analysis. To demonstrate the proof-of-concept, saliva samples collected from both healthy individuals and those with periodontitis were successfully tested to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed devices. Samples collected from individuals previously diagnosed with periodontitis showed high levels of nitrite and sAA (> 94 μmol L^-1 and > 610 U mL^-1) in comparison with healthy individuals (≤ 16 μmol L^-1 and 545 U mL^-1). Moreover, periodontitis saliva resulted in acid solution and almost null lactate levels. Notably, this protocol supplies a simple way to manufacture dual-μPADs, a versatile platform for sensitive detecting of biomarkers in saliva playing a crucial role towards the point-of-care diagnosis of periodontal disease.

Colorimetric and electrochemical integrated dual-mode detection of glucose by utilizing CoOOH@Cu nanosheets as peroxidase mimetics

Herein, we developed a colorimetric and electrochemical integrated dual-mode assay for glucose detection by utilizing CoOOH@Cu nanosheets as peroxidase mimetics. With the advantages of self-calibration, sensitivity and lower sample cost, this designed dual-mode assay offers great potential in blood glucose analysis.

Emerging nanosensor platforms and machine learning strategies toward rapid, point-of-need small-molecule metabolite detection and monitoring

Speedy, point-of-need detection and monitoring of small-molecule metabolites are vital across diverse applications ranging from biomedicine to agri-food and environmental surveillance. Nanomaterial-based sensor (nanosensor) platforms are rapidly emerging as excellent candidates for versatile and ultrasensitive detection owing to their highly configurable optical, electrical and electrochemical properties, fast readout, as well as portability and ease of use. To translate nanosensor technologies for real-world applications, key challenges to overcome include ultralow analyte concentration down to ppb or nM levels, complex sample matrices with numerous interfering species, difficulty in differentiating isomers and structural analogues, as well as complex, multidimensional datasets of high sample variability. In this Perspective, we focus on contemporary and emerging strategies to address the aforementioned challenges and enhance nanosensor detection performance in terms of sensitivity, selectivity and multiplexing capability. We outline 3 main concepts: (1) customization of designer nanosensor platform configurations via chemical- and physical-based modification strategies, (2) development of hybrid techniques including multimodal and hyphenated techniques, and (3) synergistic use of machine learning such as clustering, classification and regression algorithms for data exploration and predictions. These concepts can be further integrated as multifaceted strategies to further boost nanosensor performances. Finally, we present a critical outlook that explores future opportunities toward the design of next-generation nanosensor platforms for rapid, point-of-need detection of various small-molecule metabolites.

A perylenediimide modified SiO2@TiO2 yolk-shell light-responsive nanozyme: Improved peroxidase-like activity for H2O2 and sarcosine sensing

Although light-responsive nanozyme have been widely used in colorimetric sensing, some limitations such as poor catalytic activity, low detection efficiency, and unclear structure-activity relationships remain unresolved. Herein, we prepared an excellent light-responsive peroxidase (POD) mimic, perylenediimide (PDI-OH) modified SiO₂ @TiO₂ yolk-shell spheres (SiO₂ @TiO₂/PDI-OH), based on DFT-assisted design. The experiment and DFT calculation revealed that the enhanced POD-like activity was mainly attributed to a suitable built-in electric field among adjacent PDI-OH molecules on the surface of the SiO₂ @TiO₂ and the unique yolk-shell structure with more reaction sites of SiO₂ @TiO₂. Consequently, the highly selective and ultrasensitive detection of H₂O₂ is achieved with a detection limit (LOD) of 7.6 × 10^-8M. Further, the selective detection of sarcosine with LOD of 1.2 × 10^-7 M was also achieved by introducing sarcosine oxidase (SOx). This colorimetric assay is successfully applied to selectively detect H₂O₂ and sarcosine levels in real samples. Controlled response time, anti-interference, and the robustness of the developed colorimetric sensor are the key advantages. And the present work firstly clarifies the effect of PDIs substituents on the POD-like activity of light-responsive nanozymes and provided new guidelines to develop high-performance nanozymes for hazardous substances detection.

Application of Nanomaterials for Coping with Mycotoxin Contamination in Food Safety: From Detection to Control

Mycotoxins, which are toxic secondary metabolites produced by fungi, are harmful to humans. Mycotoxin-induced contamination has drawn attention worldwide. Consequently, the development of reliable and sensitive detection methods and high-efficiency control strategies for mycotoxins is important to safeguard food industry safety and public health. With the rapid development of nanotechnology, many novel nanomaterials that provide tremendous opportunities for greatly improving the detection and control performance of mycotoxins because of their unique properties have emerged. This review comprehensively summarizes recent trends in the application of nanomaterials for detecting mycotoxins (fluorescence, colorimetric, surface-enhanced Raman scattering, electrochemical, and point-of-care testing) and controlling mycotoxins (inhibition of fungal growth, mycotoxin absorption, and degradation). These detection methods possess the advantages of high sensitivity and selectivity, operational simplicity, and rapidity. With research attention on the control of mycotoxins and the gradual excavation of the properties of nanomaterials, nanomaterials are also employed for the inhibition of fungal growth, mycotoxin absorption, and mycotoxin degradation, and impressive controlling effects are obtained. This review is expected to provide the readers insight into this state-of-the-art area and a reference to design nanomaterials-based schemes for the detection and control of mycotoxins.

Prussian Blue Nanoparticle Supported MoS2 Nanocomposites as a Peroxidase-Like Nanozyme for Colorimetric Sensing of Dopamine

An abnormal level of dopamine (DA) is usually related to neurological disorders, including Parkinson's disease. Herein, cubic-shaped, Prussian blue nanoparticle-supported MoS2 nanocomposites (MoS2-CPBNPs) were prepared as peroxidase-like nanozymes for the label-free, colorimetric detection of DA. As expected, the as-prepared MoS2-CPBNPs nanozymes have outstanding peroxidase-like mimicking activity, which can catalyze 3,3',5,5'-Tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) to generate blue, oxidized TMB in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). DA can inhibit the oxidation of TMB, which causes blue solutions to fade and become colorless. According to this phenomenon, the developed colorimetric sensor can qualitatively and quantitatively analyze DA ranging from 0 to 300 μM with a detection limit of 0.09 μM. In addition, the high recovery and low relative standard deviation for practical DA determination suggested that this colorimetric sensor has potential for application in biological biosensing and diagnostic fields.

Electrochemical/visual microfluidic detection with a covalent organic framework supported platinum nanozyme-based device for early diagnosis of pheochromocytoma

The development of smart, portable, and sensitive devices for the monitoring of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) is essential to diagnose several diseases, including pheochromocytoma (PCC). Therefore, in this study, a dual-mode (electrochemical/visual) microfluidic device was designed for the rapid and sensitive detection of PCC-CTCs using a microfluidic chip for automatic cell sampling and detection and a smartphone-based three-dimensional-printed accessory for signal output analysis. The device was employed to capture and identify PCC-CTCs via specific immunogenic binding to the norepinephrine transporter and somatostatin receptor, which are overexpressed on the surface of PCC cells. Specifically, targeted-modified magnetic particles were used to capture and separate PCC-CTCs from peripheral blood; then, similarly modified covalent organic framework based nanozymes (COF@Pt) were used as peroxidase mimics to amplify the electrochemical response from H₂O₂ reduction and catalyze the oxidation of 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine by hydroxyl radicals in the presence of the PCC cells to enable visual quantification. Using the prepared microfluidic device, a low detection limit of 1 cell mL^-1 at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3 and a wide linear range of 2 to 10⁵ cells mL^-1 were achieved. Overall, this work demonstrates a portable, sensitive, and visual platform for PCC diagnostics that meets the requirement for quick and precise point-of-care diagnostics.

Toehold-Mediated Cascade Catalytic Assembly for Mycotoxin Detection and Its Logic Applications

In this work, an enzyme-free biosensor is reported for mycotoxin detection based on a toehold-mediated catalytic hairpin assembly (CHA) and a DNAzyme-cascaded hydrolysis reaction. In the presence of a mycotoxin, the recognition between an aptamer and the mycotoxin releases the trigger DNA. The trigger DNA initiates the toehold-mediated CHA, generating large amounts of partial duplex B/C with four toeholds, which can be used to assemble the DNAzyme-cascaded hydrolysis reaction. Furthermore, through a collaborative autoassembly reaction among the B/C duplex, DNA1, and DNA2, supramolecular nanostructures corresponding to Mg²⁺-dependent DNAzymes can be formed. With the incubation of Mg²⁺, the dual-modified (TAMRA/BHQ2) substrate strand DNA2 will be cleaved into two fragments, yielding a high TAMRA fluorescence signal for mycotoxin testing. Under optimal conditions, the sensing system was ultrasensitive and showed low detection limits of 0.2 pM for ochratoxin A (OTA), 0.13 pM for aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), and 0.17 pM for zearalenone (ZEN). The mycotoxin aptasensor also exhibited high selectivity and was successfully applied for the quantitative analysis of OTA, AFB1, and ZEN in wine samples. Due to the advantages of flexibility and versatility, this mycotoxin platform was used to fabricate several concatenated logic gates including "AND-INHIBIT", "INHIBIT-OR", "OR-AND", and "OR-INHIBIT" logic biocomputings. Such multiple functions of the logic system provided a universal sensing strategy for the intelligent detection of multiplex mycotoxins, demonstrating considerable potential in food safety and environmental monitoring.

Recent Advances and Applications in Paper-Based Devices for Point-of-Care Testing

Point-of-care testing (POCT), as a portable and user-friendly technology, can obtain accurate test results immediately at the sampling point. Nowadays, microfluidic paper-based analysis devices (μPads) have attracted the eye of the public and accelerated the development of POCT. A variety of detection methods are combined with μPads to realize precise, rapid and sensitive POCT. This article mainly introduced the development of electrochemistry and optical detection methods on μPads for POCT and their applications on disease analysis, environmental monitoring and food control in the past 5 years. Finally, the challenges and future development prospects of μPads for POCT were discussed.

The pursuit of further miniaturization of screen printed micro paper-based analytical devices utilizing controlled penetration towards optimized channel patterning

One of the main objectives of microfluidic paper-based analytical devices is to present solutions particularly, for applications in low-resource settings. Therefore, screen-printing appears to be an attractive fabrication technique in the field, due to its overall simplicity, affordability, and high-scalability potential. Conversely, the minimum feature size attained using screen-printing is still rather low, especially compared to other fabrication methods, mainly attributed to the over-penetration of hydrophobic agents, underneath defined patterns on masks, into the fiber matrix of paper substrates. In this work, we propose the use of the over-penetration to our advantage, whereby an appropriate combination of hydrophobic agent temperature and substrate thickness, allows for the proper control of channel patterning, rendering considerably higher resolutions than prior arts. The implementation of Xuan paper and nail oil as novel substrate and hydrophobic agent, respectively, is proposed in this work. Under optimum conditions of temperature and substrate thickness, the resolution of the screen-printing method was pushed up to 97.83 ± 16.34 μm of channel width with acceptable repeatability. It was also found that a trade-off exists between achieving considerably high channel resolutions and maintaining high levels of repeatability of the process. Lastly, miniaturized microfluidic channels were successfully patterned on pH strips for colorimetric pH measurement, demonstrating its advantage on negligible sample-volume consumption in nano-liter range during chemical measurement and minimal interference on manipulation of precious samples, which for the first time, is realized on screen-printed microfluidic paper-based analytical devices.

Paper-based aptamer-antibody biosensor for gluten detection in a deep eutectic solvent (DES)

Paper has been widely employed as cheap material for the development of a great number of sensors such as pregnancy tests, strips to measure blood sugar, and COVID-19 rapid tests. The need for new low-cost analytical devices is growing, and consequently the use of these platforms will be extended to different assays, both for the final consumer and within laboratories. This work describes a paper-based electrochemical sensing platform that uses a paper disc conveniently modified with recognition molecules and a screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) to achieve the detection of gluten in a deep eutectic solvent (DES). This is the first method coupling a paper biosensor based on aptamers and antibodies with the DES ethaline. Ethaline proved to be an excellent extraction medium allowing the determination of very low gluten concentrations. The biosensor is appropriate for the determination of gluten with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.2 mg L⁻¹ of sample; it can detect gluten extracted in DES with a dynamic range between 0.2 and 20 mg L⁻¹ and an intra-assay coefficient of 10.69%. This approach can be of great interest for highly gluten-sensitive people, who suffer from ingestion of gluten quantities well below the legal limit, which is 20 parts per million in foods labeled gluten-free and for which highly sensitive devices are essential.

Dual-Mode Sensing Platform for Electrochemiluminescence and Colorimetry Detection Based on a Closed Bipolar Electrode

Development of sensors uniting different sensing principles is in line with the concept of reliable, comprehensive, and diversified equipment construction. However, the current exploration in this field is obstructed by compromise of reaction conditions and inevitable mutual interference arising from different sensing modes. This work reported a closed bipolar electrode (c-BPE) strategy for dual-modality detection or dual-target detection. To this end, a c-BPE sensing platform installed in physically separated anode and cathode compartments was well designed and carefully optimized. If luminol was present in the anode section and Prussian blue (PB) was at the cathode part, single stimulation could realize electrochemiluminescence (ECL) from luminol at the anode and conversion of PB to Prussian white (PW) at the cathode. The latter reaction helped elevate the ECL signal and also prepared for colorimetric detection as color change from PW to PB under the trigger of oxidant (like H₂O₂) was used to track the content of the oxidant. Thus, dual signals were obtained for dual-modality detection of single target or the detection of different targets was realized at different poles. Detection of glucose was carried out to validate the application for dual-modality detection, while VLDL/AChE and NADH/H₂O₂ assays illustrated the potential of dual-target detection. The proposed platform possesses outstanding sensing performance including selectivity, repeatability, long-term stability, accuracy, and so forth. This work implements a breakthrough in designing dual-mode sensors and is expected to present a rational basis for development of a diversified sensing platform.

Recent Developments and Applications of Microfluidic Paper-Based Analytical Devices for the Detection of Biological and Chemical Hazards in Foods: A Critical Review

Nowadays, food safety has become a major concern for the sustainability of global public health. Through the production and distribution steps, food can be contaminated by either chemical hazards or pathogens, and the determination of these plays a critical role in the processes of ensuring food safety. Therefore, the development of analytical tools that can provide rapid screening of these hazards is highly necessary. Microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (µPADs) have advanced significantly in recent years as they are rapid and low-cost analytical screening tools for testing contaminated food products. This review focuses on recent developments of µPADs for various applications in the food safety field. A description of the fabrication of selected papers is briefly discussed, and evaluation of the μPADs' performance with regard to their precision and accuracy as well as their limits of detection is critically assessed. The advantages and disadvantages of these devices are highlighted.

Recent Achievements in Electrochemical and Surface Plasmon Resonance Aptasensors for Mycotoxins Detection

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites of fungi that contaminate agriculture products. Their release in the environment can cause severe damage to human health. Aptasensors are compact analytical devices that are intended for the fast and reliable detection of various species able to specifically interact with aptamers attached to the transducer surface. In this review, assembly of electrochemical and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) aptasensors are considered with emphasis on the mechanism of signal generation. Moreover, the properties of mycotoxins and the aptamers selected for their recognition are briefly considered. The analytical performance of biosensors developed within last three years makes it possible to determine mycotoxin residues in water and agriculture/food products on the levels below their maximal admissible concentrations. Requirements for the development of sample treatment and future trends in aptasensors are also discussed.

A competitive colorimetric aptasensor transduced by hybridization chain reaction-facilitated catalysis of AuNPs nanozyme for highly sensitive detection of saxitoxin

Saxitoxin (STX) is a small molecule toxin (Mw. ca. 299 g/mol) with high acute toxicity, and it has urgent need of facile analytical methods. Herein, a competitive colorimetric aptasensor was developed for highly sensitive detection of STX. An anti-STX aptamer was hybridized with a complementary strand on the magnetic beads and was competitively bound by STX. The supernatant containing the aptamer binding to STX was obtained by magnetic separation, which could trigger hybridization chain reaction (HCR) to generate rigid double stranded DNAs (dsDNAs) with sticky end and variable length. These HCR-dsDNAs were found to be able to facilitate significant enhancement on the peroxidase-like catalytic capability of AuNPs nanozyme towards 3,3,5,5-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB). The concentration of STX was responded in a "turn on" mode, based on the amplified colorimetric transduction thereof. The aptasensor realized high sensitivity, with a limit of detection (LOD) as low as 42.46 pM. Moreover, a wide linear detection range of 78.13-2500 pM, good selectivity, as well as good recovery rates of 106.2-113.5% when analyzing STX in real shellfish samples were obtained. This strategy could be referred to develop robust aptasensors for simple and highly sensitive detection of other small molecules and toxins.

Paper-based electrochemical peptide sensor for on-site detection of botulinum neurotoxin serotype A and C

Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) produced by soil bacterium Clostridium botulinum are cause of botulism and listed as biohazard agents, thus rapid screening assays are needed for taking the correct countermeasures in a timely fashion. The gold standard method relies on the mouse lethality assay with a lengthy analysis time, i.e., 2-5 days, hindering the prompt management of food safety and medical diagnosis. Herein, we propose the first paper-based antibody-free sensor for reliable and rapid detection of BoNT/A and BoNT/C, exploiting their cleavage capability toward a synthetic peptide able to mimic the natural substrate SNAP-25. The peptide is labelled with the electroactive molecule methylene blue and immobilized on the paper-based electrode modified with gold nanoparticles. Because BoNT/A and BoNT/C can cleave the peptide with the removal of methylene blue from electrode surface, the presence of these neurotoxins in the sample leads to a signal decrease proportional to BoNT amount. The biosensor developed with the selected peptide and combined with smartphone assisted potentiostat is able to detect both BoNT/A and BoNT/C with a linearity up to 1 nM and a detection limit equal to 10 pM. The applicability of this biosensor was evaluated with spiked samples of orange juice, obtaining recovery values equal to 104 ± 6% and 98 ± 9% for 1 nM and 0.5 nM of BoNT/A, respectively.

Rapid mapping of the IAA in leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana using a simple paper-based electroanalytical device coupled with microsampling

To deeply investigate the pivotal roles of Auxin (mainly indole-3-acetic acid, IAA), it is essential to obtain the contents of IAA in different locations of plants. It is still a challenge to quantify the levels of IAA in different sites of Arabidopsis thaliana leaves because of the small sizes. In this study, a simple paper-based electroanalytical device coupled with microsampling was used to differentiate the IAA amounts in different locations of Arabidopsis thaliana leaves. For the micro real sampling, the different areas of the thaliana leaves were retrieved by the Harris Uni-Core TM Miltex® with diameters: 1.0, 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, and 4.0 mm. The results showed that the contents of IAA can be detected from circle samples with the diameter from 1.0 to 4.0 mm. With 1.5 mm diameter sampling, the levels of IAA could be obtained in different sites of cotyledon and the first true leaf of Arabidopsis thaliana at the seedling stage. Our results suggested that the highest IAA levels were in the near petiole and lowest IAA levels in the leaf tip, which roughly agreed with those in tobacco leaves based on HPLC-MS reported before. In addition, the microsampling has a minor impact on the growth of Arabidopsis thaliana in the following especially for circle samples with the diameter 1.5 mm. This study revealed the potential application of microsampling coupled with a simple paper-based electroanalytical device for the mapping study of IAA in small plants or small tissue samples.

To deeply investigate the pivotal roles of Auxin (mainly indole-3-acetic acid, IAA), it is essential to obtain the contents of IAA in different locations of plants.