Immunochromatographic assay integrated smartphone-based device for simultaneous detection of multiple mycotoxins using core-shell up-conversion nanoparticles

Universal contamination and synergistic toxicity of multiple mycotoxins in foodstuffs have become a challenge in food safety, posing a serious threat to human and animal health. Herein, we developed a multiple immunochromatography assay (mICA) integrating a smartphone device with core-shell up-conversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) for simultaneous detection of deoxynivalenol (DON), aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and zearalenone (ZEN) in cereals. The limits of detection for DON, AFB1, and ZEN could be quickly obtained within 10 min, with values of 0.25 ng/mL, 0.05 ng/mL, and 0.1 ng/mL, respectively. Furthermore, the practicability and repeatability of the core-shell UCNPs-mICA were successfully evaluated by detecting the recoveries of DON, AFB1 and ZEN in corn and wheat under the optimal sample extraction. The results obtained by the smartphone-based UCNPs-mICA were consistent with those by high-performance liquid chromatography, demonstrating the advantage of being faster and more portable. Due to its high sensitivity, high specificity, low cost, and portability, the proposed core-shell UCNPs-mICA integrated with a smartphone-based device provides significant potential prospects in the rapid screening of mycotoxins.