Sodium saccharin, a synthetic sweetener commonly used in the food industry, is potentially carcinogenic, and excessive consumption causes harm to the liver and nervous system. Consequently, developing an on-site approach for the precise quantification is of utmost importance and exigency. In this work, a straightforward, expeditious, and highly sensitive intelligent point-of-care testing (iPOCT) method found on quantum dot nanobeads (QBs) was devised for detecting sodium saccharin in food. QBs served as fluorescent labels previously being coupled to anti‑sodium saccharin antibodies. The quantification of sodium saccharin depended on a portable smartphone reader device. The iPOCT showed expeditious detection of sodium saccharin within 15 min. It presented a relatively low limit of detection of 0.18 ng/mL and an extensive linear range from 10 to 5 × 10 4 ng/mL. In the case of preserved fruit, jelly, and fruit wine, the recovery rates ranged from 97.60% to 105.51%, with relative standard deviations below 8.90%, consistent with the results obtained from high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Unlike conventional detection methods that require complex instrumentation, specialized operation, and off-site analysis, our QB-based iPOCT offers enhanced sensitivity, simplified operation, low cost, and rapid on-site readout. Consequently, this method serves as an effective on-site monitoring tool for sodium saccharin, providing essential technical support for quality supervision within the food industry. • A portable platform for the on-site detection of artificial sweeteners in food. • This method achieves ultra-sensitive detection with a 0.18 ng/mL limit of detection. • This method completes analysis within 15 min, featuring a broad linear range. • This method offers a low-cost, easy-to-operate solution for food safety.
Wang et al. (Sun,) studied this question.