Molecularly Imprinted Aggregation-Induced Electrochemiluminescence Interface Based on Quinoline-Malononitrile Nanomaterials for Specific and Ultrasensitive Recognition of Zearalenone

Zearalenone (ZEN), a chemically stable and hydrophobic mycotoxin commonly present in cereal-derived matrices, poses persistent risks to food safety and public health, yet its reliable electrochemiluminescence (ECL) sensing remains challenging due to nonspecific adsorption and interface fouling in complex extracts. Herein, we report a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP)-gated aggregation-induced electrochemiluminescence (AIECL) sensor enabled by quinoline-malononitrile nanomaterials (QM NMs) as a robust interfacial organic emitter. QM NMs were immobilized on a glassy carbon electrode and exhibited intense cathodic ECL in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) containing K₂S₂O₈, providing a bright and stable transduction platform. An electropolymerized imprinting layer was then constructed in the presence of ZEN and subsequently eluted to generate specific binding cavities, leading to a characteristic “decrease-recovery-decrease” ECL evolution during film growth, template removal, and target rebinding. Under optimized conditions, ZEN induced pronounced ECL quenching with a good linear response from 0.01 to 100 ng/mL and a detection limit of 7.24 pg/mL. The sensor also showed excellent reproducibility and operational stability, and achieved satisfactory recoveries in corn flour, wheat flour, and beer samples. Collectively, this work demonstrates an effective strategy to integrate bright AIECL organic emitters with robust MIP recognition for selective and sensitive ZEN monitoring in complex food matrices.