Emerging nanomaterial-based sensors for foodborne pathogen and toxin detection

Public awareness regarding the risks associated with foodborne pathogens and toxic microbial metabolites has led to a heightened demand for improved food safety and quality. The primary food safety concerns emphasize contamination during transit, improper food handling practices, inadequate cleanliness, food spoilage during storage, insufficient nutrients, and other factors that contribute to subpar food quality. Consumption of such compromised food can result in the transmission of foodborne illnesses due to toxins released by microorganisms. Conventional methods fail to address such challenges, due to high cost and considerable time for analysis, resulting in significant losses for the company manufacturing them in terms of processing, packaging, regulation, and distribution for maintaining good food quality. In order to address these challenges, food industries are turning to nanotechnology-based solutions that enable efficient sensing, monitoring, preservation, and targeted nutrient delivery. Their application in nanosensors facilitates real-time detection of food spoilage during transport, advanced packaging for product protection, and prevention of over-ripening. The current review focuses on recent advances in nanomaterial-based sensing platforms, such as the electronic nose, electronic tongue, nano barcode, and optical nanosensor for real-time sensing of pathogens and toxins in food materials. In the next decade, food nanotechnology will be directed toward developing responsive, intelligent, and biodegradable nanomaterials for real-time tracking and adaptive response to environmental signals. Furthermore, innovations in nanoencapsulation for targeted delivery of bioactive compounds are poised to revolutionize the functional food sector, while the use of eco-friendly nanomaterials may significantly reduce environmental burden and ensure sustainable food safety solutions.