High humidity and water contamination in postharvest products promote the growth of the Aspergillus species that produce aflatoxins, a major class of mycotoxins frequently found in crops such as maize, cereals, nuts, and beans. Among them, aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is the most prevalent and toxic, leading to hepatocellular carcinoma. Traditionally, AFB1 regulation has been focused on food products; however, recent studies indicate that AFB1 can migrate into water systems, causing detectable contamination in wastewater and bottled water. This issue necessitates rapid, on–site methods to selectively detect AFB1 in aqueous environments, as climate change intensifies conditions that increase exposure. Emissive complex droplets with reconfigurable morphology provide a promising sensing platform, transducing analyte–induced changes in interfacial behavior—mediated by interactions with functional block copolymers—into dynamic optical signals. In this project, we synthesize and characterize functional polymeric receptors based on poly(styrene)-block-poly(acrylic acid) post-polymerization to selectively sense AFB1 in aqueous systems. Specifically, these receptors were imbued with charged dipeptide and β-cyclodextrin functionalities to elucidate whether receptor–AFB1 interaction is primarily governed by electrostatic or hydrophobic forces. The receptors will be characterized through physical (Infrared Spectroscopy and Thermogravimetric Analysis), surface (Static and Electrophoretic Light Scattering), and interfacial techniques (Pendant Drop Tensiometry) to evaluate structure, functionalization, and selective interaction with AFB1. We anticipate that AFB1-receptor adducts will modify the interfacial behavior of the block copolymers, providing a model system to guide subsequent synthesis of selective recognition elements. Here, we demonstrate preliminary results towards developing an in-situ sensing platform for AFB1 using complex droplets.
