Innovative Application of SERS in Food Quality and Safety: A Brief Review of Recent Trends

Abstract

Innovative application of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) for rapid and nondestructive analyses has been gaining increasing attention for food safety and quality. SERS is based on inelastic scattering enhancement from molecules located near nanostructured metallic surfaces and has many advantages, including ultrasensitive detection and simple protocols. Current SERS-based quality analysis contains composition and structural information that can be used to establish an electronic file of the food samples for subsequent reference and traceability. SERS is a promising technique for the detection of chemical, biological, and harmful metal contaminants, as well as for food poisoning, and allergen identification using label-free or label-based methods, based on metals and semiconductors as substrates. Recognition elements, including immunosensors, aptasensors, or molecularly imprinted polymers, can be linked to SERS tags to specifically identify targeted contaminants and perform authenticity analysis. Herein, we highlight recent studies on SERS-based quality and safety analysis for different foods categories spanning the whole food chain, ‘from farm to table’ and processing, genetically modified food, and novel foods. Moreover, SERS detection is a potential tool that ensures food safety in an easy, rapid, reliable, and nondestructive manner during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recent Progress in Nanotechnology-Based Approaches for Food Monitoring

“…Therefore, it is vitally important to determine the food allergens to alert the consumer. The most common food allergens are β -conglycinin, agglutinin, Ara h1, lactoferrin, and β -lactoglobulin [ 141 , 142 ]. Basically, SERS technology for sensing food allergens relies on the specific interaction between ligands attached to the SERS substrate and the allergens.…”

Label-Free Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Detection of Fire Blight Pathogen Using a Pathogen-Specific Bacteriophage

“…Owing to its high sensitivity, fast data acquisition, and real-time response, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has been recently proposed as a powerful spectroscopic analysis method for the detection and identification of pathogenic bacteria. − The currently used methods for the SERS detection of bacteria can be divided into label-free and extrinsic label-based strategies. , In the label-based methods, Raman reporter molecules, which can produce distinct and ultrasensitive signals, bind to target analytes via specific biorecognition components. Thus, the target analytes can be indirectly detected by measuring the Raman signals of the reporters. , Although label-based SERS sensors are highly sensitive and reproducible, complex labeling procedures and labor-intensive sample preparation steps render them costly, time-consuming, and complicated .…”

“…12−15 The currently used methods for the SERS detection of bacteria can be divided into label-free and extrinsic label-based strategies. 16,17 In the label-based methods, Raman reporter molecules, which can produce distinct and ultrasensitive signals, bind to target analytes via specific biorecognition components. Thus, the target analytes can be indirectly detected by measuring the Raman signals of the reporters.…”

Flexible Substrate of Cellulose Fiber/Structured Plasmonic Silver Nanoparticles Applied for Label-Free SERS Detection of Malathion

“…Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is currently receiving much attention as a promising sensing platform for the non-destructive detection of food contaminants because of its high specificity and sensitivity [ 1 , 2 ]. Along with current testing techniques, including high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), SERS detection, in which a long and complex sample pretreatment is offset by extremely low detection limits, is a promising approach for detecting trace hazardous substances [ 3 ].…”