Recent Advances in Electrochemical Biosensors for Food Control

Abstract

The rapid and sensitive detection of food contaminants is becoming increasingly important for timely prevention and treatment of foodborne disease. In this review, we discuss recent developments of electrochemical biosensors as facile, rapid, sensitive, and user-friendly analytical devices and their applications in food safety analysis, owing to the analytical characteristics of electrochemical detection and to advances in the design and production of bioreceptors (antibodies, DNA, aptamers, peptides, molecular imprinted polymers, enzymes, bacteriophages, etc.). They can offer a low limit of detection required for food contaminants such as allergens, pesticides, antibiotic traces, toxins, bacteria, etc. We provide an overview of a broad range of electrochemical biosensing designs and consider future opportunities for this technology in food control.

Keywords: aptasensor; detection; electrochemical sensor; food safety; genosensor; immunosensor.

Figure 1

Food control and electrochemical biosensors in the literature in the period of 2002–2022. (a) Values were obtained by searching “food control” and (b) “electrochemical biosensors for food control” in Scopus (solid lines). Trends obtained by fitting a tendency curve and projecting it for the next 4 years (dotted lines).

Figure 2

Different elements and steps in electrochemical detection of foodborne contaminants. Food sample containing biological or chemical hazardous elements in contact with the biorecognition element immobilized on the electrode generates an electrical signal that can be processed by a computer or a smartphone.

Figure 3

Different electrochemical methods that enable to evidence and quantify foodborne contaminants using electrochemical biosensors.

Figure 4

Functionalization of screen-printed carbon electrode with a graphene acid suspension to enable a specific ssDNA grafting for sensing of pork DNA using the nonfaradaic EIS. Adapted with permission from [150].

Figure 5

(A) Illustration of biochip integrating the microfluidics and electronic connection for biosensor. (B) E. coli detection strategy, adapted with permission from [164].

Figure 6

Illustration of synthesis of P-Ce-MOF@MWCNTs (A) and stepwise construction of the electrochemical aptasensor for trace detection of zearalenone (B). Adapted with permission from [96].

Figure 7

Botulinum neurotoxins detection using the peptide-based electrochemical biosensor. Thiolate peptide carrying methylene blue was grafted on AuNPs deposited onto a paper electrode. In the presence of the toxin, the peptide is cleaved, and voltammetric signal decreases. SWV, square wave voltammetry. Adapted with permission from [172].

Figure 8

Schematic illustration for the fabrication of MIP-based impedimetric sensor for S. aureus detection, adapted with permission from [42].

Figure 9

Schematic illustration of the carbon screen printed electrode modification with quinone reductase enzymatic biosensor construction and detection of vitamin K₃ in solution containing NADPH as an electron donor and riboflavin.