International journal of biological macromoleculesJan 28, 2026

Sensitive detection of aflatoxin B1 using a marker-free fluorescent sensor with automated 3D DNA signal amplification

CRISPR Gene Editing Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Feb 1, 2026

Abstract

The biosensor achieved a detection limit of 45.38 pg/mL for aflatoxin B1 in a linear range of 0.05 to 10 ng/mL.

A CRISPR/Cas12a-based fluorescent biosensor was developed for detecting aflatoxin B1.
The biosensor utilizes a 3D DNA walker for signal amplification and silver nanoclusters for fluorescence.
A small amount of aflatoxin B1 produces a significant signal change by enhancing the activity of Cas12a.
The biosensor demonstrated effective recovery rates in spiked food samples such as peanut milk and drinking water.
This work suggests potential advancements in marker-free biosensing technologies for mycotoxin detection.

Simplified

The efficient and sensitive detection of mycotoxins is critical to ensure food safety and maintain public health worldwide. In this study, a CRISPR/Cas12a-mediated marker-free fluorescent biosensor based on an automated 3D DNA walker-enabled 'one-to-many' signal amplification was developed for sensitive detection of aflatoxin B1. Due to the efficient amplification effect of DNA walkers and the strong fluorescence properties of silver nanoclusters, a sensitive output of the amplified signal was produced by precisely regulating the activated trans-cleavage activity of the specific target DNA of Cas12a. In the established fluorescence biosensor, a small amount of aflatoxin B1 promoted the production of a large amount of activator by the established 3D DNA walker, which stimulated the trans-cleavage activity of Cas12a to degrade the single-stranded DNAs for synthesis of silver nanoclusters, leading to a decreased fluorescent signal. The established biosensor was able to achieve the sensitive detection of aflatoxin B1 under optimal conditions, obtaining a detection limit of 45.38 pg/mL in a linear range of 0.05 to 10 ng/mL. In addition, the developed biosensor showed good recoveries in spiked food samples (peanut milk and drinking water) at different concentrations. This work provided new insights for the applications of DNA walker and the development of a marker-free fluorescent biosensing platform based on CRISPR/Cas for the detection of mycotoxins.

Full Text

Full text is available at the source.

View Full Text ↗

Sensitive detection of aflatoxin B1 using a marker-free fluorescent sensor with automated 3D DNA signal amplification

Abstract

Full Text

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

what lands in your inbox each week:

Recent issues from the crispr gene editing brief

Abstract

Full Text

Related papers

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

what lands in your inbox each week:

Recent issues from the crispr gene editing brief