Smartphone-assisted mobile fluorescence sensor for self-calibrated detection of anthrax biomarker, Cu2+, and cysteine in food analysis

Sheng Wang; Jun Xu; Fengzhi Yue; Lina Zhang; Ning Bi; Jian Gou; Yongxin Li; Yuanyuan Huang; Tongqian Zhao; Lei Jia

doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.139410

Smartphone-assisted mobile fluorescence sensor for self-calibrated detection of anthrax biomarker, Cu²⁺, and cysteine in food analysis

Food Chem. 2024 Apr 20:451:139410. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.139410. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Sheng Wang¹, Jun Xu², Fengzhi Yue¹, Lina Zhang¹, Ning Bi¹, Jian Gou¹, Yongxin Li¹, Yuanyuan Huang¹, Tongqian Zhao³, Lei Jia⁴

Affiliations

¹ College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo, Henan, 454000, China.
² College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo, Henan, 454000, China. Electronic address: xjjl@hpu.edu.cn.
³ Institute of Resources & Environment, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo, Henan 454000, China. Electronic address: zhaotq@hpu.edu.cn.
⁴ College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo, Henan, 454000, China. Electronic address: jlxj@hpu.edu.cn.

PMID: 38670024
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.139410

Abstract

Dipicolinic acid (DPA), as a biomarker for Bacillus anthracis, is highly toxic at trace levels. Rapid and on-site quantitative detection of DPA is essential for maintaining food safety and public health. This work develops a dual-channel self-calibrated fluorescence sensor constructed by the YVO₄:Eu and Tb-β-diketone complex for rapid visual detection of DPA. This sensor exhibits high selectivity, fast response time, excellent detection sensitivity, and the detection limit is as low as 4.5 nM in the linear range of 0-16 μM. A smartphone APP and portable ultraviolet lamp can assemble a mobile fluorescence sensor for on-site analysis. Interestingly, adding Cu²⁺ ions can quench the fluorescence intensity of Tb³⁺. In contrast, the addition of cysteine can restore the fluorescence, allowing the accurate detection of Cu²⁺ ions and cysteine in environmental water and food samples. This work provides a portable sensor that facilitates real-time analysis of multiple targets in food and the environment.

Keywords: Dual-channel lanthanide sensor; Intelligent analysis; Multiple targets analysis; On-site detection; Self-calibrated detection.