Biosensors to nanoarrays for monitoring chemical contaminants and natural toxins

Contaminant monitoring from microbiological, chemical and fraudulent sources in agri-food production is an important yet complex issue. A huge investment in time and effort is placed on these activities by regulatory and industrial laboratories. Although sophisticated techniques such as chromatography and spectrometry provide accurate and conclusive results, screening tests allow a much higher low cost throughput of samples with less operator training. Biosensors combine a biological recognition element with a transducer to produce a measurable signal proportional to the extent of interaction between the recognition element and contaminant. Different applications of the biosensing instrumentation available are extremely varied, with agri-food analysis an emerging and growing area. Biosensors can offer advantages over traditional immunoassay screening methods with respect to food analysis such as automation, improved reproducibility, speed and real time analysis but cost must not be prohibitive to their use. The miniaturisation of immunoassays and biosensor technology towards nanosensing offers not only enhanced sensitivity but portability and multiplexing capabilities. As fresh demands from consumers and regulators grow to improve the integrity of the food supply chain the need for improved smart nano-technologies has never been greater. The presentation will illustrate progress made to the development and validation of nanoarrays that can detect both single and multiple contaminants in food samples to offer a holistic approach to agri-food safety.