Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-8 Composite-Based Enzyme-Linked Aptamer Assay for the Sensitive Detection of Deoxynivalenol

The mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) is a prevalent contaminant in cereals that threatens the health of both humans and animals and causes economic losses due to crop contamination. The rapid and sensitive detection of DON is essential for food safety. Herein, a colorimetric biosensor based on horseradish peroxidase- and gold nanoparticle-encapsulated zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (HRP&Au@ZIF-8) was developed for the sensitive screening of DON. The synthesized HRP&Au@ZIF-8 probes not only held great potential for signal amplification but also exhibited stable catalytic activity even under extreme conditions, which endowed the biosensor with both good sensitivity and stability. Under the optimized conditions, qualitative measurement of DON can be achieved through visual inspection, and quantitative evaluation can be performed via absorbance measurements at a characteristic wavelength of 450 nm. The proposed method has demonstrated high sensitivity with a linear detection range of 1–200 ng/mL and a detection limit of 0.5068 ng/mL. It also presented good selectivity and reliability. Furthermore, DON in spiked cereal samples has been quantified successfully using this method. This novel approach demonstrates significant potential for the facile and expeditious detection of DON in cereal products and brings us one step closer to enhancing food safety.