Fluorescently labelled multiplex lateral flow immunoassay based on cadmium-free quantum dots

[Display omitted] •The first multiplex immunochemical technique based on InP QDs was developed.•InP/ZnS QD was enrobed in a silica shell that allowed its water solubility.•Orange and yellow-emitting InP/ZnS QDs were used in lateral flow immunoassay.•Two mycotoxins were simultaneously detected in maize and wheat. A sensitive tool for simultaneous qualitative detection of two mycotoxins based on use of non-cadmium quantum dots (QDs) is presented for the first time. QDs have proven themselves as promising fluorescent labels for biolabeling and chemical analysis. With an increasing global tendency to regulate and limit the use of hazardous elements, indium phosphide (InP) QDs are highlighted as environmentally-friendly alternatives to the highly efficient and well-studied, but potentially toxic Cd- and Pb-based QDs. Here, we developed water-soluble InP QDs-based fluorescent nanostructures. They consisted of core/shell InP/ZnS QDs enrobed in a silica shell that allowed the water solubility (QD@SiO2). Then we applied the QD@SiO2 as novel, silica shell-encapsulated fluorescent labels in immunoassays for rapid multiplexed screening. Two mycotoxins, zearalenone and deoxynivalenol, were simultaneously detected in maize and wheat, since the two QD@SiO2 labelled conjugates emit at two different, individually detectable wavelengths. The cutoff values for the simultaneous determination were 50 and 500μgkg−1 for zearalenone and deoxynivalenol, respectively, in both maize and wheat. Liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) was used to confirm the result.