Development of a new nanocomposite-based molecular printed QCM sensor for the detection of nivalenol

Mycotoxins are toxic compounds produced by fungi. Aflatoxins, trichothecene, amatoxins, ochratoxins, fumonisins, coprin, zearalenone and nivalenol are the most well-known examples. Mycotoxins can contaminate food at all stages of the food chain. This study involved in a novel molecularly imprinted QCM sensor preparation based on sulphur incorporated cobalt ferrite (S-CoFe2O4) for Nivalenol (NIV) detection in rice samples. After the productions of cobalt ferrite and sulfur incorporated cobalt ferrite were successfully completed with sol-gel and calcination methods, respectively, a novel molecular imprinted QCM sensor based on sulfur incorporated cobalt ferrite was formed with UV polymerization technique imcluding N,N′-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as the initiator, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as the cross-linker, methacryloylamidoglutamic acid (MAGA) as the monomer, and NIV as the analyte. After spectroscopic, electrochemical and microscopic characterizations of the developed QCM sensor and nanomaterials, the kinetic analyzes based on the QCM method were performed. According to the kinetic analyzes, the linearity of NIV imprinted QCM sensor based on S-CoFe2O4 was observed as 1.0 - 10.0 ng L-1 and the limit of quantification (LOQ) and detection limit (LOD) were found to be 1.0 and 0.25 ng L-1, respectively. Finally, the high selectivity, repeatability, and stability of the prepared QCM sensor based on S-CoFe2O4 and molecularly imprinting polymer will ensure safe food consumption worldwide.