A highly sensitive aptasensor for OTA detection based on hybridization chain reaction and fluorescent perylene probe

An optical aptasensor was developed for ultrasensitive detection of ochratoxin A (OTA) based on hybridization chain reaction (HCR) amplification strategy and fluorescent perylene probe (PAPDI)/DNA composites. Dendritic DNA concatamers were synthesized by HCR strategy and modified on magnetic nanoparticles through aptamer as medium. A large amount of PAPDI probe aggregated under the induction of DNA concatamers and caused fluorescence quenching. In the presence of OTA, the PAPDI/DNA composites were released from magnetic nanoparticles due to the strong affinity between aptamer and OTA. In ethanol, PAPDI monomers disaggregated and produced strong fluorescence. The present method displays excellent sensitivity and selectivity towards OTA.