Rapid Detection of Zeranol Contamination in Cereals Using a Quaternary Ammonium-Functionalized Terphen[3]arene-Based Optical Sensor.

To ensure food safety and quality, sensitive and accurate methods for rapidly detecting mycotoxins have become imperative. Zeranols (ZERs) are a class of mycotoxins commonly found in cereals, posing serious health risks, including hormonal disruption and carcinogenic potential. In response to this pressing concern, we have developed a simple yet highly sensitive and high-throughput supramolecular sensing approach based on novel macrocycles known as extended biphen[n]arenes for monitoring ZERs in cereal matrices. The proposed approach utilizes the indicator displacement assay (IDA) and employs quaternary ammonium-functionalized terphen[3]arene (CTP3) as the host molecule for capturing ZERs. This method achieves a highly sensitive response, owing to the robust synergistic interactions between CTP3 and ZERs, ensuring the reliable detection of these harmful compounds. Significantly, not only does the established approach provide an alternative strategy for inspecting high-risk grains contaminated by ZERs, but it also demonstrates novel applications of biphen[n]arenes for mycotoxin detection.