Simultaneous Detection of Food Contaminants Using Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS): A Review

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) technology has garnered significant attention for the detection of trace food contaminants, due to its exceptional sensitivity, non-destructive nature, and molecular fingerprinting capabilities. Currently, SERS applications in the simultaneous detection of multiple contaminants have advanced rapidly. SERS-based simultaneous detection strategies are generally categorized into label-free and labeled detection methods. Labeled detection can be further divided into SERS encoding detection and spatial isolation detection, with Raman reporter molecules playing a key role in SERS encoding. This article reviews the strategies, principles, common Raman reporter molecules, and practical applications of SERS-based simultaneous detection. Additionally, this article explores the challenges and future directions of SERS technology in contaminant detection, with an emphasis on the development of stable, intelligent substrates; improvements in analytical algorithms; and the creation of portable, on-site detection platforms. This study seeks to offer valuable insights into the development of SERS-based methods for simultaneously detecting multi-contaminants.