Detection and discrimination of pathogenic bacteria with nanomaterials-based optical biosensors: A review

Pathogenic bacteria can pose a great threat to food safety and human health. It is therefore imperative to develop a rapid, portable, and sensitive determination and discrimination method for pathogenic bacteria. Over the past few years, various nanomaterials (NMs) have been employed as desirable nanoprobes because they possess extraordinary properties that can be used for optical signal enabled detection and identification of bacteria. By means of modification, NMs can, depending on different mechanisms, sense targets directly or indirectly, which then provides an essential support for the detection and differentiation of pathogenic bacteria. In this review, recent application of NMs-based optical biosensors for food safety bacterial detection and discrimination is performed, mainly in but not limited to noble metal NMs, fluorescent NMs, and point-of-care testing (POCT). This review also focuses on future trends in bacterial detection and discrimination, and machine learning in performing intelligent rapid detection and multiple accurate identification of bacteria.

Automated summary

Pathogenic bacteria can be a major threat to food safety and human health, making it crucial to develop a rapid, portable, and sensitive method for their detection and discrimination. Nanomaterials have emerged as desirable nanoprobes, offering extraordinary properties for optical signal-enabled detection and identification of bacteria. This review focuses on the recent application of nanomaterial-based optical biosensors for the detection and discrimination of pathogenic bacteria in food safety, with particular emphasis on noble metal nanomaterials, fluorescent nanomaterials, and point-of-care testing (POCT). It also discusses future trends in bacterial detection and discrimination, including the role of machine learning in intelligent rapid detection and accurate identification of bacteria.