Functionalized nanofiber-based efficient sorbent for simultaneous extraction of multiple mycotoxins and its molecular dynamics simulation.

Mycotoxins pose significant threats to public health and the economy. In this study, a novel functionalized nanofiber membrane was fabricated through electrospinning of polystyrene/polyacrylonitrile blended with carbon nanopowder and dopamine self-polymerization (PDA@PS/PAN-CNP NFM). The PDA@PS/PAN-CNP NFM was utilized as a nanofiber-packed solid-phase extraction (PFSPE) adsorbent, exhibiting brilliant extraction performance for multiple mycotoxins. Coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography equipped with a fluorescence detector (HPLC-FLD), a sensitive and rapid method for detecting trace mycotoxins in corn, bamboo shoots, sorghum, and their derivatives was developed. Under optimized conditions, the method showed good linearity, recovery (91.84 %-99.12 %), precision (RSD < 6 %), and low limits of detection (0.06-4.46 μg/kg). Notably, each extraction column could be reused for 25 cycles. Moreover, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations revealed the interaction mechanisms between mycotoxins and the adsorbent, providing molecular-level insights into the adsorption dynamics. The results demonstrate great potential for application in the simultaneous determination of multiple mycotoxins.