IMR Press / FBL / Volume 27 / Issue 3 / DOI: 10.31083/j.fbl2703092
Open Access Original Research
Engineering Novel Aptameric Fluorescent Biosensors for Analysis of the Neurotoxic Environmental Contaminant Insecticide Diazinon from Real Vegetable and Fruit Samples
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1 Divisions of Life Science and Applied Life Science (BK21 Four), Gyeongsang National University, 52828 Jinju, Republic of Korea
2 Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Research Center, Gyeongsang National University, 52828 Jinju, Republic of Korea
3 Faculty of Biotechnology, Vietnam National University of Agriculture, 12400 Hanoi, Vietnam
4 Division of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, MO 65211, USA
*Correspondence: jchong@gnu.ac.kr (Jong Chan Hong)
These authors contributed equally.
Academic Editor: Soo-Jin Choi
Front. Biosci. (Landmark Ed) 2022, 27(3), 92; https://doi.org/10.31083/j.fbl2703092
Submitted: 23 December 2021 | Revised: 17 February 2022 | Accepted: 18 February 2022 | Published: 9 March 2022
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Toxicants and Contaminants in Food)
Copyright: © 2022 The Author(s). Published by IMR Press.
This is an open access article under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Abstract

Background: Diazinon is a widely used organophosphorus neurotoxic insecticide. It is a common environmental contaminant and a hazardous agri-waste. Its detection is critical to control entry into food systems and protect the environment. Methods: In this study, three single-stranded DNA aptamers specific for diazinon were discovered using the systematic evolution of ligands by the exponential enrichment (SELEX) process. Since aptamer-based sensors are quick and straightforward to analyze, they could potentially replace the time-consuming and labor-intensive traditional methods used for diazinon detection. Results: Here, we show the engineering of novel sensors for diazinon detection with a high affinity (Kd), specificity, and high sensitivity at the ppb level. Moreover, the aptamers were helpful in the simultaneous detection of two other structurally relevant insecticides, fenthion, and fenitrothion. Furthermore, the real vegetable and fruit samples confirmed the specific detection of diazinon using DIAZ-02. Conclusions: We developed novel biosensors and optimized the assay conditions for the detection of diazinon from food samples, such as vegetables and fruit. The biosensor could be adopted to analyze toxicants and contaminants in food, water, and nature as point-of-care technology.

Keywords
food contaminant
SELEX
insecticide detection
ssDNA aptamer
fluorescence
biosensor
binding affinity
dissociation constant
Figures
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