Biosensors for Food Mycotoxin Determination: A Comparative and Critical Review
Aurelia Magdalena Pisoschi,
Florin Iordache,
Loredana Stanca,
Elena Mitranescu,
Liliana Bader Stoica,
Ovidiu Ionut Geicu,
Liviu Bilteanu,
Andreea Iren Serban
Affiliations
Aurelia Magdalena Pisoschi
Department Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 105 Splaiul Independentei, 050097 Bucharest, Romania
Florin Iordache
Department Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 105 Splaiul Independentei, 050097 Bucharest, Romania
Loredana Stanca
Department Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 105 Splaiul Independentei, 050097 Bucharest, Romania
Elena Mitranescu
Department Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 105 Splaiul Independentei, 050097 Bucharest, Romania
Liliana Bader Stoica
Department Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 105 Splaiul Independentei, 050097 Bucharest, Romania
Ovidiu Ionut Geicu
Department Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 105 Splaiul Independentei, 050097 Bucharest, Romania
Liviu Bilteanu
Molecular Nanotechnology Laboratory, National Institute for Research and Development in Microtechnologies, 126A Erou Iancu Nicolae Street, 077190 Bucharest, Romania
Andreea Iren Serban
Department Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 105 Splaiul Independentei, 050097 Bucharest, Romania
The need for performant analytical methodologies to assess mycotoxins is vital, given the negative health impact of these compounds. Biosensors are analytical devices that consist of a biological element for recognizing the analyte and a transducer, which translates the biorecognition event into a signal proportional to the analyte concentration. The biorecognition elements can be enzymes, antibodies, or DNA fragments. The modalities of detection can be optical, electrochemical, thermal, or mass-sensitive. These analytical tools represent viable alternatives to laborious, expensive traditional methods and are characterized by specificity given by the biorecognition element, sensitivity, fast response, portability, multi-modal detection, and the possibility of in situ application. The present paper focuses on a comprehensive view, enriched with a critical, comparative perspective on mycotoxin assay using biosensors. The use of different biorecognition elements and detection modes are discussed comparatively. Nanomaterials with optical and electrochemical features can be exploited in association with a variety of biorecognition elements. Analytical parameters are reviewed along with a broad range of applications.