Nanoparticle-based sensors for food contaminants

With the frequent occurrence of food scandals, food safety has become a topical issue throughout society. Various contaminants present in food can cause foodborne illnesses, posing a serious threat to human health, so an efficient and reliable method for the assessment of food is urgently required. Recently, nanoparticle (NP)-based sensors have emerged as a potential alternative or complementary analytical tool to conventional detection methods, which are time consuming and laborious. NPs such as gold, silver, and magnetic nanoparticles have attracted much attention to amplify the detection signal and provide higher sensitivity. This review summarizes the various NP-based sensors, explaining their principles and discussing their applications in the detection of pesticides, metals, pathogens, antibiotics, and mycotoxins in terms of their sensitivity and multiplexing capabilities. The limitations and challenges of NP-based technology in the rapid and reliable monitoring of food are also considered. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.