Recent progress, challenges, and future perspectives of electrochemical biosensing of aflatoxins

Aflatoxins (AFs), produced by fungi, are highly hazardous and classified as mycotoxins. Controlling their levels is of significant concern. This group consists of 20 fungal metabolites, all structurally derived from difuranocoumarin. Exposure to AFs through food can cause critical health issues, such as cancers, deformities, and mutations, posing a significant global public health issue. The inherent dangers of AF exposure necessitate swift and reliable detection techniques to identify its presence in food products. The rise of nanotechnology has opened doors to innovative electrochemical biosensors, offering a promising solution to this pressing issue. This review delves into nanomaterial-based aptasensors, immunosensors, and molecularly imprinted polymers, the predominant electrochemical biosensors developed for AF detection. This paper offers a broad summary of recent advancements in biosensor technology in electrochemical sensing of AFs, alongside challenges to overcome limitations, and future perspectives.