Aptamer-functionalized metal organic frameworks as an emerging nanoprobe in the food safety field: Promising development opportunities and translational challenges

Food analysis is of great importance in food quality and safety monitoring for risk assessment regarding human health. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as a class of crystalline porous nano materials have attracted immense attention in biosensing and bioanalysis. MOFs may be utilized to make high-efficiency signal probes for a variety of applications, including biochemical analysis, food safety inspection, and environmental monitoring, especially when they are combined with aptamer functionalization. Hence, the main focus of this study is to cover the current progress of aptamerfunctionalized MOFs-based electrochemical sensors and their food safety applications. We first highlight the general functionalization mechanisms of MOFs with aptamers, which offer a foundation to build MOFs-based aptasensors. Then, we discuss various strategies to design high-performance MOFs-based aptamer platforms which serve as either signal probes or signal probe carriers and their applications in food contaminants. The challenges and opportunities of developing aptamerfunctionalized MOFs are discussed at the end.(c) 2022 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Automated summary

Food analysis plays a crucial role in monitoring food quality and safety for assessing human health risks. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), as a type of crystalline porous nanomaterials, have garnered significant attention in biosensing and bioanalysis. This study focuses on aptamer-functionalized MOFs-based electrochemical sensors and their applications in food safety. The study highlights the mechanisms of functionalizing MOFs with aptamers and discusses strategies for designing high-performance aptamer platforms based on MOFs, which can serve as signal probes or carriers for food contaminants. The challenges and opportunities of developing aptamer-functionalized MOFs are also discussed.