The persistent challenge of mycotoxin contamination in food products continues to pose significant risks to public health and food safety worldwide. Mycotoxins, toxic secondary metabolites produced by certain molds, are notorious for their carcinogenic, teratogenic, and immunosuppressive effects. Given their prevalence in staple crops such as cereals, nuts, and spices, there is an urgent need for rapid, sensitive, and portable analytical methods that enable on-site detection. Traditional laboratory-based techniques, including chromatographic and mass spectrometric methods, though highly accurate, suffer from limitations such as time-consuming sample preparation, expensive instrumentation, and the requirement for trained personnel, rendering them unsuitable for field applications.
In this technological landscape, biosensors have emerged as a beacon of innovation, offering a spectrum of benefits that align with the demands of contemporary food safety monitoring. These devices leverage biological recognition elements coupled with physicochemical transducers to convert specific molecular interactions into quantifiable signals. When integrated with microfluidic technology — which manipulates minute volumes of fluids within microscale channels — biosensors transform into sophisticated platforms capable of handling complex sample matrices with enhanced sensitivity and reduced reagent consumption.
Microfluidics, often referred to as “lab-on-a-chip” technology, offers unparalleled control over fluid dynamics in devices typically millimeters in size. These chips can perform multiple analytical procedures, including sample preparation, mixing, separation, and detection, in a streamlined and automated fashion. The marriage of biosensors and microfluidic devices facilitates rapid detection cycles, diminishes the risk of contamination, and enables multiplexed analyses, thereby addressing many bottlenecks faced in traditional mycotoxin detection workflows.
Recent advances have underscored the significance of material selection in the fabrication of microfluidic chips. Various substrates — such as glass, silicon, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), and paper — have been meticulously engineered to offer distinct advantages like optical transparency, chemical inertness, ease of fabrication, and disposability. Glass and silicon substrates provide robustness and high precision but require complex manufacturing processes. In contrast, polymers like PDMS and PMMA permit rapid prototyping and low-cost production, making them attractive for point-of-care devices. Innovative paper-based microfluidic devices have drawn notable attention due to their biodegradability and simplicity, ideal for resource-limited settings.
The role of microfluidic devices in mycotoxin analysis extends beyond containment and transport of samples. These devices facilitate efficient sample preparation, incorporating modules for filtration, pre-concentration, and purification. Such integrated functionalities are crucial for overcoming matrix effects commonly encountered in food samples, which may interfere with detection sensitivity. Moreover, microfluidics enables precise separation techniques, improving selectivity by isolating target analytes from complex food matrices before they reach the sensing element.
Recognition elements are the heart of any biosensor, conferring specificity and affinity toward the toxin of interest. Traditional antibodies have been extensively used for their high binding affinity and specificity; however, their stability and cost limitations prompted the exploration of alternatives. Aptamers — synthetic oligonucleotides selected for their ability to fold into unique structures that bind target molecules — offer considerable advantages such as thermal stability, ease of synthesis, and potential for chemical modification. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs), synthetic materials engineered with specific molecular cavities, mimic natural receptors and have shown promise due to their robustness and low cost.
A wide range of sensing modalities is employed in conjunction with microfluidic biosensors for mycotoxin detection. Colorimetric sensors, which generate a visible color change upon analyte binding, offer simplicity and suitability for naked-eye readout, making them valuable for rapid screening. Fluorescence-based sensors enhance sensitivity through the emission of light at certain wavelengths, permitting the detection of low toxin concentrations. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensors exploit plasmonic nanostructures to amplify Raman signals, enabling highly sensitive and multiplexed detection. Electrochemical sensors convert biochemical interactions into electrical signals, offering rapid response times and ease of miniaturization, while photoelectrochemical sensors combine light excitation with electrochemical processes to achieve improved detection limits.
The synergy of these sensing modalities with microfluidic platforms has yielded compelling systems tailored for on-site mycotoxin detection. Several prototypes now demonstrate the ability to analyze trace levels of aflatoxins, ochratoxins, fumonisins, and other prevalent mycotoxins in real food samples within minutes. These advances not only enhance analytical throughput but also open avenues for real-time monitoring and decision-making in agricultural and food supply chains, potentially mitigating public health risks before contaminated products reach consumers.
Despite these promising developments, challenges remain in translating microfluidic biosensors from the laboratory to widespread commercial application. Issues such as device reproducibility, standardization, and mass manufacturing need to be systematically addressed. Long-term stability and reusability of biological recognition elements under varying environmental conditions are additional hurdles. Furthermore, integrating data acquisition, processing, and communication functionalities into portable devices is critical for creating user-friendly platforms accessible to non-specialists.
Future research is poised to leverage cutting-edge materials science, nanotechnology, and artificial intelligence to overcome current limitations. The incorporation of novel nanomaterials and nanostructures could enhance signal transduction and improve detection limits. Machine learning algorithms integrated with biosensor readouts hold promise for complex pattern recognition, enabling multiplexed detection and improved accuracy. Innovations in fabrication techniques, such as 3D printing and flexible electronics, may further advance the design of personalized and wearable mycotoxin sensors.
Collaboration across disciplines and sectors, including academia, industry, and regulatory agencies, is essential to accelerate the development of validated microfluidic biosensor platforms. Regulatory acceptance and harmonized standards for on-site biosensor testing will be crucial to ensuring food safety and consumer confidence. Public-private partnerships may catalyze the translation of prototypes into market-ready products that can be deployed globally, especially in regions susceptible to mycotoxin contamination but lacking sophisticated laboratory infrastructure.
The integration of microfluidic devices with biosensors represents a paradigm shift in analytical chemistry and food safety monitoring. It embodies the convergence of biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering to tackle a pervasive challenge threatening global food security. Through interdisciplinary innovation, this technology holds the promise of transforming mycotoxin detection from centralized, labor-intensive testing into accessible, rapid, and reliable on-site diagnostics.
As the global food supply chain becomes increasingly complex, the need for real-time and decentralized monitoring grows ever more critical. Microfluidic biosensors, with their compact size, multifunctionality, and compatibility with portable electronics, are poised to become indispensable tools in this context. These technologies empower stakeholders at every level—from farmers to retailers—to make informed decisions, ultimately reducing the incidence of mycotoxin exposure and safeguarding public health.
Continuing advancements in microfabrication, biosensing, and data integration are likely to unlock new frontiers in detecting not only mycotoxins but also a broader range of foodborne contaminants. As research deepens, these platforms may evolve into universal sensing systems capable of simultaneous detection of multiple analytes, enabling comprehensive food quality assessment in real-time.
In conclusion, the emergent field of microfluidic biosensors for mycotoxin detection embodies a transformative approach aimed at overcoming longstanding analytical challenges. Through sophisticated material engineering, innovative recognition elements, and diverse sensing mechanisms, these devices offer rapid, accurate, and portable solutions essential for modern food safety assurance. The path ahead, while fraught with technical and regulatory challenges, is illuminated by the potential to revolutionize how we monitor and respond to mycotoxin threats—ushering in an era of safer, healthier food worldwide.
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Subject of Research: Rapid and on-site detection of mycotoxins in food using microfluidic-integrated biosensors.
Article Title: Emerging biosensors integrated with microfluidic devices: a promising analytical tool for on-site detection of mycotoxins.
Article References: Zhang, J., Zhang, X., Zhang, Y. et al. Emerging biosensors integrated with microfluidic devices: a promising analytical tool for on-site detection of mycotoxins. npj Sci Food 9, 84 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-025-00444-5
Image Credits: AI Generated
Tags: agricultural health and safetybiosensor technology in agriculturefood safety technologyinnovative detection methodslab-on-a-chip applicationsmicrofluidic biosensorsmycotoxin contamination riskson-site mycotoxin detectionportable analytical methodsrapid food contamination testingreal-time food safety monitoringsensitive food analysis techniques