Cutting-Edge Advances in Electrochemical Affinity Biosensing at Different Molecular Level of Emerging Food Allergens and Adulterants

Abstract

The presence of allergens and adulterants in food, which represents a real threat to sensitized people and a loss of consumer confidence, is one of the main current problems facing society. The detection of allergens and adulterants in food, mainly at the genetic level (characteristic fragments of genes that encode their expression) or at functional level (protein biomarkers) is a complex task due to the natural interference of the matrix and the low concentration at which they are present. Methods for the analysis of allergens are mainly divided into immunological and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)-based assays. In recent years, electrochemical affinity biosensors, including immunosensors and biosensors based on synthetic sequences of DNA or ribonucleic acid (RNA), linear, aptameric, peptide or switch-based probes, are gaining special importance in this field because they have proved to be competitive with the methods commonly used in terms of simplicity, test time and applicability in different environments. These unique features make them highly promising analytical tools for routine determination of allergens and food adulterations at the point of care. This review article discusses the most significant trends and developments in electrochemical affinity biosensing in this field over the past two years as well as the challenges and future prospects for this technology.

Voltammetric Immunosensor to Track a Major Peanut Allergen (Ara h 1) in Food Products Employing Quantum Dot Labels

“…Electrochemical biosensors can be highlighted as representative examples of these devices [ 15 , 16 , 17 ]. The analysis of food allergens, adulterants and functional foods by cutting-edge advances at different molecular levels provides new insights in biosensing strategies [ 18 , 19 ]. Furthermore, innovative and user-friendly immunochemical tools have been developed to accomplish food control and identify fraudulent food manufacturing technologies [ 20 , 21 ].…”

Electrochemical Biosensors in Food Safety: Challenges and Perspectives

“…Pingarron and his group [ 205 ] presented the most significant trends and developments in electrochemical affinity biosensing in this field over the past two years, as well as the challenges and future prospects for this technology.…”

Electroanalytical Overview: Electrochemical Sensing Platforms for Food and Drink Safety

“…The discovery of these bioreceptors has helped introduce a new generation of electrochemical biosensors that can provide an alternative to classical analytical methods for the trace detection of food safety analytes. The most common determination methods for food safety can be categorised between immunological and DNA-based assays, or between direct and indirect methods (depending on whether the analyte in question is the harmful molecule itself or a characteristic biomarker of its presence) [74]. Although these methods provide excellent results and are well understood by researchers in the field, complete validation against the mentioned lab-based methodologies is required to garner end-user confidence from people not within the field.…”