Recent Advances in (Bio)Chemical Sensors for Food Safety and Quality Based on Silver Nanomaterials

Abstract

There is a continuing need for tools and devices which can simplify, quicken and reduce the cost of analyses of food safety and quality. Chemical sensors and biosensors are increasingly being developed for this purpose, reaping from the opportunities provided by nanotechnology. Due to the distinct electrical and optical properties of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), this material plays a vital role in (bio)sensor development. This review is an analysis of chemical sensors and biosensors based on silver nanoparticles with application in food and beverage matrices. It consists of academic research published from 2015 to 2020. The paper is structured to separately explore the designs of two major (bio)sensor classes: electrochemical (including voltammetric and impedimetric sensors) and optical sensors (including colorimetric and luminescent), with special focus on the type of silver nanomaterial and its role in the sensor system. The review indicates that diverse nanosensors have been developed, capable of detecting analytes such as pesticides, mycotoxins, fertilizers, microorganisms, heavy metals, and various additives with exceptional analytical performance. Current trends in the design of such sensors are highlighted and challenges which need to be overcome in the future are discussed.

The Role of Silver Nanoparticles in Electrochemical Sensors for Aquatic Environmental Analysis

“…Electrochemical sensor technology has become an important aspect of modern analytical chemistry, and great efforts are being made to develop novel and cost-effective sensing platforms that provide a fast, accurate, and repeatable response to the analyte of interest. Compared to ubiquitous colorimetric sensors, the main advantage of electrochemical detection is the ability to measure in turbid samples [ 18 ]. Moreover, working electrodes can also be made in a planar and/or flexible mode [ 67 , 113 , 143 , 148 ], i.e., they can be easily miniaturized and integrated into more hierarchical devices [ 186 ].…”

“…AgNPs can be produced in an easy and cost-effective way with various morphologies, have an adjustable architecture, and are stable at room temperature. The versatility of nanosilver enables its application in a wide range of fields, from medicine (drug delivery, imaging, chemotherapeutics, gene therapy) [ 14 ], the textile industry (odour control) [ 15 , 16 , 17 ], and the food industry (safety and quality) [ 18 ], to supercapacitors and energy storage devices [ 19 ]. AgNPs also have unique catalytic properties (degradation of small organic molecules) [ 20 , 21 ] and superior electrical conductivity (conductive inks for printed electronics) [ 22 , 23 , 24 ].…”

The fourth industrial revolution in the food industry—Part I: Industry 4.0 technologies

“…For Industry 4.0, the food industry will require more sensors, multi-sensors, biosensors, and autonomous systems for remote and real-time use to improve productivity and efficiency, and to provide complete monitoring of each food production stage. Beside the aforementioned optical sensors, many electrochemical smart sensors have been developed for food safety and quality (Mayer & Baeumner 2019;Ivanišević et al 2021). They can be used for process control, inserted on-line during food processing, and, in the case of smart modules, even connected and automatized.…”

“…Recent advances in nanotechnology have led to new applications in many fields of food science and industry. Food sensor technologies have benefited from the opportunities offered by nanotechnology, enabling sensor miniaturisation to use low cost, reliable, and highly sensitive nanocomposite materials (Ivanišević et al 2021;Shao et al 2021). Thus, micro-and nano-scale devices are being applied as well-functioning alternatives to traditional biosensors (Inbaraj & Chen 2016;Jafarizadeh-Malmiri et al 2019;Ali et al 2021).…”

Determination of the optimum concentration of the coupling agent in chloramphenicol analysis

“…Figure 1 Structure of Chloramphenicol [13] The photometric method for the analysis of chloramphenicol can be carried out with the formation of azo compounds [14]. A reduction, diazotization, followed by a coupling reaction, are necessary for the formation of azo compounds.…”