Revolutionizing Food Safety: A Systematic Review of Nanotechnology-Based Aflatoxin Detection (2010-2023)

Area of Science:

• Food Science and Technology
• Analytical Chemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Aflatoxins (AFs) are toxic contaminants in staple foods, posing significant public health and economic risks.
• Conventional detection methods are accurate but often slow, costly, and require specialized equipment, limiting their use in resource-limited settings.
• Nanoparticle-based detection offers a potential advancement for rapid and sensitive aflatoxin analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and evaluate nanoparticle-based detection strategies for aflatoxins in food matrices.
• To highlight the potential of these advanced methods to improve food safety monitoring.
• To identify key trends and challenges in the field.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review conducted according to Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidelines and reported using PRISMA framework.
• Searched peer-reviewed articles published between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2023, across multiple electronic databases.
• Data extraction and synthesis performed on 38 included studies using Covidence systematic review management software.

Main Results:

• Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were the predominant nanomaterial used due to their optical properties and surface chemistry, enhancing assay sensitivity.
• Gold-silica core-shell nanoparticle assays achieved a low limit of detection (LOD) of 0.24 pg/mL for Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1).
• Other nanomaterials like carbon-based and polymeric nanoparticles also showed good performance, with LODs ranging from 0.5 pg/mL to 2.7 ng/mL.

Conclusions:

• Nanoparticle-based detection platforms show significant potential for rapid, highly sensitive, and field-deployable aflatoxin testing in food.
• Gold nanoparticles are particularly effective for enhancing immunosensing platforms.
• Challenges in scalability, standardization, reproducibility, and regulatory approval need to be addressed for widespread adoption.