Microchemical Journal最新文献

{"title":"Dumbbell DNA-triggered rolling circle amplification on μPADs for point-of-care insulin detection","authors":"Kai Lian,&nbsp;Shixian Liu,&nbsp;Guozhen Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.microc.2025.116756","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microc.2025.116756","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Diabetes mellitus is a chronic endocrine disorder marked by an imbalance in blood glucose levels. Emerging clinical evidence suggests that abnormal insulin levels often precede elevated glucose concentrations, highlighting insulin as a critical biomarker for both diabetes and prediabetes. Accurate insulin detection is therefore essential for early diagnosis, especially in point-of-care settings. However, insulin circulates in the blood at much lower concentrations (pM to nM range) compared to glucose (mM range), and thus traditional insulin detection methods remain challenging while relying on bulky instruments.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>This study developed two innovative dumbbell probe-based rolling circle amplification (RCA) assays (signal-off and signal-on) for insulin detection with high specificity and stability. In the signal-off method, the aptamer IGA3, upon binding to insulin, inhibits the RCA reaction, leading to a reduced fluorescence signal that enables insulin quantification. It exhibited a linear response to insulin concentrations ranging from 50 pg mL⁻¹ to 8 ng mL⁻¹ in solution, with a detection limit of 2.5 ng mL⁻¹ on microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (μPADs). In the signal-on method, IGA3 was immobilized on magnetic beads and hybridized with a partially complementary fragment (OPC10) to form a biological recognition element. Insulin binding to IGA3 competitively releases OPC10, triggering the RCA reaction and amplifying the fluorescence signal for insulin detection. It demonstrated a linear response to insulin concentrations from 20 pg mL⁻¹ to 2 ng mL⁻¹ in solution, with a detection limit of 1 ng mL⁻¹ on μPADs.</div></div><div><h3>Significance</h3><div>For the first time, dumbbell probe-based rolling circle amplification assays have been successfully implemented on microfluidic paper-based analytical devices for highly sensitive and specific insulin detection. Combined with glucose detection, this insulin assay in a signal-on or signal-off mode offers a novel, simple strategy for the early diagnosis of diabetes and prediabetes in point-of-care settings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":391,"journal":{"name":"Microchemical Journal","volume":"221 ","pages":"Article 116756"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145974469","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Low-cost dean flow-assisted microfluidic electrochemical sensor for specific detection and quantification of Lithium in water and leachate solutions","authors":"Ali Bank ,&nbsp;Shapour Jafargholinejad ,&nbsp;Pouya Rezai","doi":"10.1016/j.microc.2026.116850","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microc.2026.116850","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Current microfluidic lithium (Li) sensors lack the dynamic range, chemical robustness, and matrix compatibility required to accurately quantify Li⁺ in black mass extraction leachates containing 10–10⁴ ppm Li, limiting their applicability for real-time monitoring in industrial applications. This paper presents a low-cost microfluidic electrochemical sensor (MES) for specific detection and quantification of Li in synthetic and black mass-based samples at a wide concentration range. Two laser-cut pressure-sensitive adhesive sheets were used to fabricate a curved microchannel over three electrodes for sample injection and cyclic voltammetry (CV), respectively. The novel curved microchannel enhanced analyte convection and CV signal through the secondary Dean flow over the electrodes. Li-specific electrodes were prepared by mixing Lithium Manganese Oxide (LMO) with Graphene Carbon Paste (GCP). Increasing the LMO amount in the LMO/GCP electrode from 8 wt% to 20 wt% resulted in 560% enhancement of CV reduction peak currents in the wide MES dynamic range of 139–27,760 ppm Li⁺. Increasing the CV scan rate from 0.05 to 0.1 V/s increased the reduction peak current by 24%. The limits of detection and quantification of the MES were 139 and 833 ppm Li⁺, respectively, with a sensitivity of 45.4 nA/ppm at the mid-dynamic range of 13,880 ppm Li⁺. The MES performance was validated through synthetic and real battery cathode powder slurry-based selectivity studies, showcasing strong Li detection in complex samples containing Na⁺, K⁺, Ni²⁺, Co²⁺, and Mn²⁺. This highlights MES applicability in low-to-high concentration Li applications such as Li recycling plants, extraction from brines, and monitoring in industrial effluents.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":391,"journal":{"name":"Microchemical Journal","volume":"221 ","pages":"Article 116850"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145974470","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Advances in aflatoxins: toxicity mechanisms, detection technologies & control strategies","authors":"Jueyan Chen,&nbsp;Zhiyong Chen,&nbsp;Dejun Duan,&nbsp;Dongsheng Xue","doi":"10.1016/j.microc.2026.116882","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microc.2026.116882","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Aflatoxins are a highly toxic and carcinogenic substance that continues to threaten global food safety. This review discusses its toxicity, mechanisms, and control strategies. It also introduces the principles, advantages, and limitations of both conventional and emerging detection methods. Current techniques can achieve detection limits ranging from 0.003 nM to 0.25 ng/mL. However, current research still faces challenges including a lack of standardized protocols and limited operational stability. Future efforts should focus on integrating multidisciplinary approaches to establish an intelligent system for aflatoxins prevention and control.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":391,"journal":{"name":"Microchemical Journal","volume":"221 ","pages":"Article 116882"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145974065","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A dual-functional PDMS-ZnO-au@ag-4-MPBA biosensor for ultrasensitive SERS detection and rapid photocatalytic inactivation of foodborne pathogens","authors":"Yang Xu ,&nbsp;Chuning Cheng ,&nbsp;Lingao Yi ,&nbsp;Yinghui Li ,&nbsp;Xiangxiang Peng ,&nbsp;Xiaoyu Zhao ,&nbsp;Yongjun Zhang ,&nbsp;Wenshi Zhao ,&nbsp;Yang Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.microc.2026.116874","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microc.2026.116874","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Foodborne pathogens significantly impact food safety and environmental health. Developing a new method for sensitive detection and effective inactivation of foodborne pathogens remains a critical challenge that urgently needs to be addressed. Here, a novel PDMS-ZnO-Au@Ag-4-MPBA multifunctional biosensor was developed for simultaneously bacteria capture, detection and photocatalytic inactivation. The influence of different Ag shell thicknesses on the electromagnetic field distribution of Au@Ag nanocrystals was simulated and analyzed using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) algorithm to optimize their structural design. 4-MPBA could specifically interact with the cell walls of different types of bacteria, making it a recognition molecule modified on the optimal SERS substrate (PZA@A-3 film). The biosensor exploited both the excellent SERS activity of PZA@A-3 and the specific capture ability of 4-MPBA, significantly enhancing the discriminative SERS fingerprint features of different bacteria. It achieved an ultra-low detection limit of 10 cfu/mL and a linear detection range of 10¹–10⁸ cfu/mL for both <em>Escherichia coli</em> (<em>E. coli</em>) and <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em> (<em>S. aureus</em>). Moreover, under visible light irradiation, the biosensor achieved bacterial lethality rate (L_b) of up to 97.3% for <em>E. coli</em> and 98.1% for <em>S. aureus</em>, within 15 min, achieving environmentally friendly and low-cost bacterial inactivation. Our developed PZA@A-3-4-MPBA biosensor overcomes the single pathogen recognition or disinfection function of traditional biosensors, achieving ultra-sensitive pathogen recognition and rapid sterilization, offering promising applications in clinical diagnostics and antimicrobial treatments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":391,"journal":{"name":"Microchemical Journal","volume":"221 ","pages":"Article 116874"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145974480","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ultrasensitive electrochemical detection of Tyrosinase using au modified laser-induced graphene nanoelectrodes","authors":"Garima Singh ,&nbsp;Akanksha Shrivastav ,&nbsp;Chaitali Singhal ,&nbsp;Souradeep Roy ,&nbsp;Susanta Sinha Roy ,&nbsp;Susmita Chaudhuri ,&nbsp;Ashish Mathur","doi":"10.1016/j.microc.2026.116857","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microc.2026.116857","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Tyrosinase, a key enzyme involved in skin pigmentation and disorders such as melanoma, is traditionally detected by measuring its substrate, tyrosine. However, this traditional approach overlooks the direct detection of the enzyme itself. In contrast, this study introduces a novel electrochemical biosensor that directly detects tyrosinase activity using laser-induced graphene (LIG) electrodes modified with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). This method offers high sensitivity, a broad linear detection range of 0.5 to 60 U/mL, and a low detection limit of 0.19 U/mL. These electrodes successfully detected tyrosinase in real samples as well with an electroactive surface area of 0.31mm² at pH 7. The electrochemical sensor uses tyrosine's electroactive groups for enhanced electron transfer and oxidation currents, ensuring high specificity for detecting tyrosinase with minimal interference from biological compounds. The robustness of the sensor was demonstrated by a strong correlation (r² = 0.99) between measured and labelled tyrosinase concentrations in human serum, proving its reliability. The sensor's ability to monitor tyrosinase activity in real-time positions with a response time of 35 s makes it an ideal candidate for studying skin-related diseases, evaluating drug absorption, and conducting toxicity testing in skin-on-a-chip models.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":391,"journal":{"name":"Microchemical Journal","volume":"221 ","pages":"Article 116857"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145941013","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comprehensive evaluation of Gastrodia elata Bl. quality based on hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent extraction and multiple chemometric analysis","authors":"Fuchun Ji ,&nbsp;Xin Liu ,&nbsp;Daichun He ,&nbsp;Xiaofang Yang ,&nbsp;Jiayi Hu ,&nbsp;Xiangdong Yu ,&nbsp;Xiaodong Wen","doi":"10.1016/j.microc.2026.116844","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microc.2026.116844","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Gastrodia elata</em> Bl. (GE) is a rare functional food with high edible and medicinal value, and the value of GE is mainly attributed to its numerous active ingredients (such as phenolic compounds). In this study, an environmentally friendly method of extracting three phenolic compounds from GE was firstly proposed by using hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent (HDES). Compared with the traditional extraction method, the extraction rates of Gastrodin, 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol, and Parishin A from GE by HDES were increased by 2.8, 2.5, and 16.1 times, respectively. The extraction mechanism of HDES was explored using density functional theory. It is relatively stable and comprehensive reflecting the quality of functional foods by monitoring multiple components. To comprehensively evaluate the quality of GE, Pearson correlation analysis, cluster analysis, principal component analysis, and factor analysis were performed on the measured contents of phenolic compounds, moisture, total ash, alcohol soluble extract, and seven metal elements. The analysis results showed that Cu and GE quality were closely related and other factors had no significant impact on its quality. This extraction method is simple, rapid, and efficient. Combined with chemometrics analysis, it can provide a reference strategy for the quality evaluation of GE and other functional foods.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":391,"journal":{"name":"Microchemical Journal","volume":"221 ","pages":"Article 116844"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145940646","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Electrochemical sensors and machine learning used to identifying blood-based progression biomarkers in chronic kidney disease with unknown etiology","authors":"Haizhi Ma ,&nbsp;Wujun Wei ,&nbsp;Xiangxiang Lu ,&nbsp;Lijiao Liu ,&nbsp;Chengcai Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.microc.2026.116858","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microc.2026.116858","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major global public health challenge. Chronic kidney disease of unknown cause (CKDu) has a particularly high incidence rate in agricultural communities, and traditional risk factors cannot explain its high incidence. Blood biomarkers provide minimally invasive tools for the early detection and monitoring of CKD, but the research on blood transcriptomics of CKDu is still limited. In recent years, the application of electrochemical sensors in medical testing has gradually attracted attention. By converting the electrical signals generated by biochemical reactions into measurable signals, it can achieve rapid and sensitive detection of biomarkers, featuring high sensitivity, high selectivity, fast response and low cost, providing a new technical means for the early diagnosis and monitoring of CKD. This study utilized the <span><span>GSE62792</span><svg><path></path></svg></span> dataset, which included the transcriptome data of peripheral whole blood from 12 CKDu patients and 6 healthy controls. The blood biomarkers of CKDu were identified and verified through differential expression analysis, functional enrichment analysis, protein-protein interaction network analysis and machine learning algorithms. Electrochemical sensor technology provides technical support in biomarker detection. Its high sensitivity and selectivity enable effective capture of biomarker changes related to CKDu. Meanwhile, by integrating machine learning models, the diagnostic performance of these biomarkers is further verified. The research identified 593 differentially expressed genes, among which 544 were up-regulated and 49 were down-regulated. Through multi-step screening, 543 high-performance biomarkers were finally determined, among which 15 genes (such as IGF2R, ABCA1, etc.) achieved perfect diagnostic accuracy (AUC = 1.0). Functional enrichment analysis revealed that these biomarkers were significantly enriched in inflammatory responses, immune system processes, and CKD-related signaling pathways. Network analysis identified five hub genes, including LOC648984 and SPRED1. All machine learning models (random forest, SVM, logistic regression and gradient boosting) achieved perfect classification performance (accuracy, precision, recall, F1 score and AUC were all 1.0), among which IGF2R scored the highest in feature importance analysis (0.10). The application of electrochemical sensors provides high sensitivity and selectivity technical support for the detection of biomarkers, verifying their potential application value in the diagnosis of CKDu.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":391,"journal":{"name":"Microchemical Journal","volume":"221 ","pages":"Article 116858"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145940648","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Screening of aptamers to olaquindox metabolite and establishment of a complementary Strand competition-based method by ELASA technology","authors":"Xiying Mao ,&nbsp;Huaqing Sun ,&nbsp;Liang Li ,&nbsp;Hongyu Zhang ,&nbsp;Ming Shi ,&nbsp;Changshun Xie ,&nbsp;Kun Li","doi":"10.1016/j.microc.2026.116854","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microc.2026.116854","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Olaquindox is an antimicrobial agent widely used as a feed additive. Its metabolite, 3-methylquinoxaline-2-carboxylic acid (MQCA), exhibits potential genotoxic and carcinogenic properties. The European Union and numerous other countries and regions have established clear regulatory limits for olaquindox usage. However, some farmers, driven by economic motives, continue to illegally incorporate it into feed for livestock such as pigs and cattle. Conventional detection methods, such as liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), offer high sensitivity but are hampered by high costs and technical complexity, limiting their practical applicability. Consequently, developing efficient and cost-effective methods for MQCA residue detection is particularly important. We used the systematic evolution of ligands exponential enrichment (SELEX) in vitro screening technique to screen aptamers for MQCA from a random library of 70 bp single-stranded DNA, and characterized the affinity between the candidate aptamers and MQCA by QPCR. The binding sites of the aptamer and MQCA were investigated by molecular docking technology and the redundant sequences of the aptamer were truncated. Finally, the specificity and affinity of the truncated aptamer for MQCA were systematically characterized by colloidal gold colorimetry and fluorescence, and finally an aptamer with high affinity and good specificity for MQCA was selected, which was utilized in the innovative development of an ELASA assay based on the competitive chromatography of complementary strands. The ELASA method is more rapid, low-cost, and effectively avoids the instability of the nucleic acid aptamer, with the limit of detection (LOD) of 3.9 nM. This study reports the first successful selection of an aptamer targeting the olaquindox metabolite. The selected aptamer provides a novel recognition element for its detection. Leveraging this aptamer, we developed a complementary strand-competitive colorimetric ELASA (Enzyme-Linked Aptamer Sorbent Assay) method. This novel assay delivers results within 30 min, offering an efficient and low-cost detection approach for monitoring olaquindox metabolite residues.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":391,"journal":{"name":"Microchemical Journal","volume":"221 ","pages":"Article 116854"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145940534","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Reduced graphene oxide coated melamine sponge as cleanup absorbent for multi-residue analysis of organophosphorus pesticides in feed","authors":"Chunni Wei ,&nbsp;Minshi Chen ,&nbsp;Qianyang Zhong ,&nbsp;Huajian Liu ,&nbsp;Minjian Wu ,&nbsp;Xiaojing Li ,&nbsp;Zhenyu Lin ,&nbsp;Fang Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.microc.2026.116860","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microc.2026.116860","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Reliable detection of pesticide residues in animal feed is essential for ensuring food safety and preventing contamination throughout the food supply chain. In this study, a novel elastic adsorbent based on reduced graphene oxide-coated melamine sponge (RGO@MeS) was developed to improve matrix cleanup for the determination of 24 organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) in complex feed samples by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). This innovative material enables efficient and straightforward sample preparation via simple immersion and squeezing, substantially simplifying conventional QuEChERS workflows. The method exhibited excellent linearity (R² ≥ 0.996) across a concentration range of 0.1–2 mg/kg, accompanied by minimized matrix effects that enhanced quantification accuracy. Satisfactory recoveries (74.35–126.92%) were achieved at three spiked levels (0.5, 1, and 2 mg/kg), with relative standard deviations below 15%, indicating high precision and reliability. Limits of detection (0.002–0.038 mg/kg) and quantification (0.008–0.128 mg/kg) confirmed the method's sensitivity for trace-level monitoring. Compared to conventional QuEChERS, the RGO@MeS-based approach offers superior simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and efficiency, providing an advanced sample pretreatment technique for trace-level multi-component analysis in complex matrices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":391,"journal":{"name":"Microchemical Journal","volume":"221 ","pages":"Article 116860"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145941011","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Construction of a signal “on-off-on” electrochemiluminescence aptasensor based on donor-acceptor conjugated covalent-triazine frameworks for efficient detection of ochratoxin A","authors":"Fenghe Duan ,&nbsp;Qingmei Xing ,&nbsp;Yifei Wang ,&nbsp;Zhenzhen Li ,&nbsp;Chuanpan Guo ,&nbsp;Shuai Zhang ,&nbsp;Bin Hu ,&nbsp;Zhihong Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.microc.2026.116846","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microc.2026.116846","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This work developed a novel “on-off-on” electrochemiluminescence (ECL) aptasensor for sensitive, selective monitoring of ochratoxin A (OTA) in food, combining a competitive aptasensing strategy with dual-modal quenching. A donor-acceptor (D-A) conjugated covalent triazine framework (CTF, synthesized via Schiff-based solvothermal method using 4,4′,4″-(1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triyl)tris[benzaldehyde] and 2,2′-bipyridine-5,5′-diamine, denoted TFPT-BPY-CTF) was used both as a high-performance ECL emitter (with K₂S₂O₈) and a bioplatform to anchor single-strand DNA (ssDNA) complementary to the OTA aptamer. To enhance electron transfer efficiency, the aptamer probe was modified by Mn_<em>x</em>Fe_<em>y</em>O_<em>z</em> contained with the mixed phases of MnFe₂O₄, α-MnO₂, and Fe₂O₃, generating the Apt/Mn_<em>x</em>Fe_<em>y</em>O_<em>z</em> complex. Subsequently, the Apt/Mn_<em>x</em>Fe_<em>y</em>O_<em>z</em> complex was successfully deposited onto the ssDNA/TFPT-BPY-CTF surface via the formation of the aptamer/ssDNA double strands. Thus, this configuration led to effective quenching of the strong ECL signal of the D-A TFPT-BPY-CTF through a dual-mode mechanism involving both energy resonance transfer and electron transfer. Upon introduction of OTA, however, the formed G-quadruplex structure between OTA and the aptamer induced the release of the Apt/Mn_<em>x</em>Fe_<em>y</em>O_<em>z</em> probe, thereby enabling the recovery of the ECL signal. Ultimately, the ultrasensitive detection of OTA using the signal “on-off-on” TFPT-BPY-CTF-based ECL aptasensor. The constructed ECL aptasensor not only exhibited a wide linear range from 1.0 pg mL⁻¹ to 100 ng mL⁻¹ with an ultralow detection limit of 0.21 pg mL⁻¹ but also demonstrated superior selectivity, high stability, and good reproducibility, alongside promising practicality. This novel ECL aptasensor based the CTF provides an efficient, reliable, and rapid approach for the analysis of mycotoxins in food products.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":391,"journal":{"name":"Microchemical Journal","volume":"221 ","pages":"Article 116846"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145940644","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}