Towards high-efficient online specific discrimination of zearalenone by using gold nanoparticles@aptamer-based affinity monolithic column

Sensitive and specific analysis of zearalenone (ZEN) mycotoxin in cereals for ensuring food safety is critical and remains challenging. Herein, a new gold nanoparticles @aptamer-functionalized hybrid affinity monolithic column was proposed and employed for online specific recognition of ZEN by HPLC. Characterization on the morphology, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area mechanical stability and specific performance of the obtained affinity monolith were investigated. A super-high aptamer coverage density could reach 3636 pmol/mu L, which is preferable to gain an effective analysis of ZEN with high specificity and a low interference of co-existed substances including typical alpha-Zearalenol (alpha-ZOL) and Aflatoxin B-1 (AFB(1)). The sensitive recognition of trace ZEN was obtained with the limit of detection (LOD) as low as 0.05 ng/mL. Applied to real cereal samples, satisfactory recoveries were obtained in the range of 91.6 +/- 1.4%-97.8 +/- 2.6% (n = 3) in corn, 93.8 +/- 3.1%-95.0 +/- 3.6% (n = 3) in wheat, and 90.9 +/- 4.7%-94.7 +/- 3.8% (n = 3) in rice, respectively. The results on quantitative analysis were similar to that of LC-MS and better than that obtained by using immunoaffinity column (IAC) or molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP). This protocol provided an efficient access to high-efficient online specific recognition of ZEN in cereals by using such an aptamer-affinity capillary monolithic column. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.