A bio-bar-code photothermal probe triggered multi-signal readout sensing system for nontoxic detection of mycotoxins

Herein, a photothermal triggered multi-signal readout (MSR) system was innovatively established with great convenience for low-cost and sensitive point-of-care testing (POCT). In this sensing system, an intelligent multi-signal readout interface (MSRI) with multidimensional response-ability to thermal stimulus was developed and utilized as a sensing element. A bio-bar-code photothermal probe peptides@H2N-HCNTs acted as a target associated photothermal agent anchored on MSRI via competitive reaction. The multi-signal assay of target was realized under the driven of 808 nm laser, photo-to-thermal conversion effect of photothermal probe caused dramatically thermal energy increase on MSRI. As a result, the competitive recognition events were translated into several detectable signals on MSRI, including a local temperature elevation, a visual color change from blue to green as well as weight loss on MSRI, all of these signals were proportional to the target concentration. This assay has been successfully applied in field work for detecting zearalenone (ZEN), a common mycotoxin in grain food, with linear ranger from 10−7 ng/mL to 10−1 ng/mL and detection limits of 1.06 × 10−7 ng/mL. Combination of the different signal principles was expected to result in more reliable and precise results. Accordingly, this creatively designed MSR-system not only provided a platform for sensitive monitor of mycotoxin but also offered new method for reliable and affordable personal assays in daily life and low-resource setting.