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Bio-Nanoparticles Sensor Couple With Smartphone Digital Image Colorimetry and Dispersive Liquid–Liquid Microextraction for Aflatoxin B1 Detection Publisher Pubmed



Alikord M1, 2 ; Shariatifar N3 ; Saraji M4 ; Hosseini H5 ; Khaniki GJ3 ; Shoeibi S6 ; Rezazadeh T4 ; Fazeli M7
Authors
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Nutrition and Food Security Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
  2. 2. Department of Food Science and Technology, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
  3. 3. Department of Environmental Health, Food Safety Division, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  4. 4. Department of Chemistry, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, 84154-83111, Iran
  5. 5. Department of Food Science and Technology, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, Faculty of Nutrition Sciences and Food Technology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  6. 6. Food and Drug Laboratory Research Center (FDLRC), IRAN FDA, Tehran, Iran
  7. 7. Pharmaceutical Quality Assurance Research Center, The Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (TIPS), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Source: Scientific Reports Published:2025


Abstract

A novel nanobiosensor-based colorimetric method was developed by integrating ZnO nanoparticles functionalized with curcumin, dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME), and smartphone digital image colorimetry for the sensitive detection of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in baby food samples. The unique combination of biologically-derived ZnO nanoparticles with curcumin created a sensing platform, while DLLME provided efficient pre-concentration of the target analyte. A custom-designed portable colorimetric box enabled standardized image capture and analysis using a smartphone camera and colorimetric software. Under optimized conditions using chloroform as the extraction solvent and acetonitrile as the disperser solvent, the method achieved a remarkable limit of detection of 0.09 μg/kg within linear concentration range of 0–1 μg/L. The calibration curves demonstrated excellent linearity (R2 > 0.9906) with high precision (RSD < 5.52%). The method was successfully validated using baby food samples, achieving high recoveries (89.8–94.2%). This innovative integration of nanobiosensing, microextraction, and smartphone technology offers a rapid, highly sensitive, and cost-effective platform for on-site AFB1 detection in food safety applications, particularly beneficial for resource-limited settings. © The Author(s) 2025.