Research Progress of Functional Nucleic Acids-Based Biosensor in the Sensitive Detection of Foodborne Pathogens

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Food Safety
• Biosensor Technology

Background:

• Foodborne pathogen contamination poses a significant global public health risk.
• Current detection methods (culture, PCR, ELISA) are often complex, costly, and lack portability for on-site use.
• There is a critical need for rapid, sensitive, and portable detection technologies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in functional nucleic acid (FNA)-based biosensors for detecting foodborne pathogens.
• To highlight screening strategies, sensing mechanisms, and amplification techniques for FNA biosensors.
• To discuss challenges and future perspectives in FNA-driven biosensor development for food safety.

Main Methods:

• Review of literature on FNA-based biosensors for foodborne pathogen detection.
• Summary of screening strategies, including systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX).
• Analysis of various sensing mechanisms (fluorescence, colorimetry, electrochemistry) and signal amplification methods.

Main Results:

• Functional nucleic acids (aptamers, DNAzymes) are effective molecular recognition elements for biosensors.
• Nucleic acid amplification strategies significantly enhance detection sensitivity.
• FNA-based biosensors demonstrate programmability, stability, and specificity for reliable food monitoring.

Conclusions:

• FNA-based biosensors represent a promising technology for rapid, sensitive, and portable detection of foodborne pathogens.
• These biosensors can significantly contribute to enhanced food safety monitoring and the prevention of foodborne diseases.
• Further development is needed to address existing challenges and improve detection accuracy for practical applications.