A research team has developed a human serum albumin-based fluorescent probe that can tell apart aflatoxin B1 and aflatoxin B2a, the photo-degraded metabolite of B1, in a single sample. Most existing analytical methods focus on B1 alone and overlook B2a even though both are toxic.
The probe produces distinct ratiometric color signals for each toxin and can be applied directly to corn-based food extracts. With a brief photo-irradiation step, the method estimates the total B1 burden by also capturing the B2a fraction that forms when B1 breaks down under light. The team also demonstrated ratiometric imaging of aflatoxin distribution in zebrafish intestines and mouse intestinal tissues.
The work matters for food safety surveillance because aflatoxin contamination in corn and other commodities is variable and can be underestimated by methods that ignore degradation products.