** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** SOME FOODS, SUCH AS CEREALS, NUTS, FRUITS, AND COFFEE BEANS, ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO CERTAIN MOLDS OR FUNGI THAT PRODUCE TOXINS KNOWN AS MYCOTOXINS. CONSUMPTION OF MYCOTOXINS-CONTAMINATED FOOD CAN RESULT IN VARIOUS TOXICOLOGICAL EFFECTS SUCH AS TOXIC HEPATITIS, EDEMA, HEMORRHAGE, AND KIDNEY FAILURE. THE US FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION AND WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION HAVE RELEASED STRICT REGULATORY GUIDELINES FOR THE MAJOR MYCOTOXIN CLASSES IN FOOD PRODUCTS. EFFECTIVE ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES FOR DETECTING MYCOTOXINS ARE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO MONITOR AND PREVENT CONTAMINATED FOODS. NEVERTHELESS, MOST CURRENT ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES FOR MYCOTOXIN DETECTION REQUIRE SOPHISTICATED AND EXPENSIVE EQUIPMENT, COMPLICATE DETECTION PROCEDURES, AND HIGH COST, WHICH IMPOSE GRAND CHALLENGES FOR EXTENSIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF MYCOTOXIN DETECTION IN FOOD INDUSTRY. THIS PROJECT IS COMMITTED TO DEVELOPING A SIMPLE, SENSITIVE, AND LOW-COST TECHNIQUE FOR DETECTION OF MYCOTOXINS IN FOODS. THE TECHNIQUE RELIES ON UNIQUE METALLIC NANOSCALE PARTICLES (NANOPARTICLES) THAT POSSESS ENZYME-LIKE ACTIVITIES. THE METALLIC NANOPARTICLES ACTING AS ENZYME MIMICS CAN GENERATE INTENSE COLOR SIGNAL THROUGH CATALYSIS. THE COLOR SIGNAL CAN BE CONVENIENTLY DETECTED AND QUANTIFIED BY AN INEXPENSIVE SPECTROPHOTOMETER. AFTER CONJUGATION WITH BIOMOLECULES, THE METALLIC NANOPARTICLES CAN BE USED AS COLORIMETRIC LABELS FOR SENSITIVE DETECTION OF MYCOTOXINS. THE SUCCESS OF THIS PROJECT WILL BE OF GREAT BENEFIT TO FOOD AND AGRICULTURE SYSTEMS BY OFFERING A SIMPLE, SENSITIVE, AND AFFORDABLE TECHNIQUE FOR MYCOTOXIN DETECTION.