Advancing Mycotoxin Detection in Food and Feed: Novel Insights from Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS)

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Food Science

Background:

• Mycotoxin contamination poses significant risks to the agri-food industry.
• On-site detection technologies are crucial for ensuring food safety and quality.
• Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has emerged as a promising technique for mycotoxin analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in SERS for on-site mycotoxin detection.
• To highlight the role of novel nanostructured materials in SERS applications.
• To identify challenges and propose solutions for SERS implementation in agri-food settings.

Main Methods:

• Review of literature on SERS-based mycotoxin detection.
• Analysis of nanostructured material fabrication (bottom-up and top-down approaches).
• Examination of strategies for enhancing specificity (recognition elements, MIPs).

Main Results:

• Novel nanostructured materials improve SERS sensitivity.
• Immobilization of recognition elements and MIPs enhance specificity and reproducibility.
• Limited studies validate SERS using naturally contaminated samples and establish detection limits.

Conclusions:

• SERS technology requires further development to meet regulatory limits and end-user needs.
• Addressing challenges in nanofabrication, molecular binders, and data analytics is essential.
• Recommendations focus on assay design, portability, and substrate stability for practical SERS applications.