Recent advances in shellfish toxin biosensing technologies: Micro/nano molecule- and cell-based biosensors

Background

Shellfish toxins have attracted worldwide attention because of their important roles in the seafood industry, food safety, human health, and aquatic environment safety. Therefore, it is essential to develop an efficient, highly sensitive, convenient, low-cost, rapid, and on-spot detection method for the routine monitoring of shellfish toxins. With rapid advances in the fields of biotechnology, microsystems, and nanoengineering, micro/nano molecule- and cell-based biosensors have enormous potential for addressing this issue.

Scope and approach

This review focuses on the most recent progress in micro/nano molecule- and cell-based biosensors for shellfish toxin measurement. Biosensors are classified into four categories based on their biosensitive elements: aptasensors, immunosensors, enzyme biosensors, and cell-based biosensors. Sensor strategies, toxin analytes, biosensitive elements, micro-nanometer materials, sensing methods, on-site detection performance, and applicability are highlighted to investigate the applications of shellfish toxin detection. Finally, the current challenges and future development trends of micro/nano molecule- and cell-based biosensors for shellfish toxin detection are proposed.

Key findings and conclusions

Advances in biomaterials, micro/nano sensors, intelligent detection technologies and solution integrations, and micro/nano molecule- and cell-based biosensors applied to the routine surveillance of shellfish toxins will play a critical role in food security, water environmental safety, and bivalve global trade in the foreseeable future.