Molecules (Jul 2023)

Recent Progress on Fluorescent Probes in Heavy Metal Determinations for Food Safety: A Review

  • Liqing Lai,
  • Fang Yan,
  • Geng Chen,
  • Yiwen Huang,
  • Luqiang Huang,
  • Daliang Li

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28155689
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 28, no. 15
p. 5689

Abstract

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One of the main challenges faced in food safety is the accumulation of toxic heavy metals from environmental sources, which can sequentially endanger human health when they are consumed. It is invaluable to establish a practical assay for the determination of heavy metals for food safety. Among the current detection methods, technology based on fluorescent probes, with the advantages of sensitivity, convenience, accuracy, cost, and reliability, has recently shown pluralistic applications in the food industry, which is significant to ensure food safety. Hence, this review systematically presents the recent progress on novel fluorescent probes in determining heavy metals for food safety over the past five years, according to fluorophores and newly emerging sensing cores, which could contribute to broadening the prospects of fluorescent materials and establishing more practical assays for heavy metal determinations.

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