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Article
Publication date: 29 August 2023

Shakiba Narjabadi Fam and Ramona Massoud

Food safety is among the most important topics in the world. According to WHO guidelines, aflatoxins are one of the most hazardous food toxins. Therefore, their detection in food…

Abstract

Purpose

Food safety is among the most important topics in the world. According to WHO guidelines, aflatoxins are one of the most hazardous food toxins. Therefore, their detection in food products seems crucial due to health problems. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the different types of biosensors in aflatoxin determination.

Design/methodology/approach

Traditional detection methods are time consuming and expensive. As fast and accurate detection is important in monitoring food contaminants, alternative analytical methods would be essential. Biosensors are the intelligent design of sensitive sensors for precise detection of toxins in a short time. Various biosensors are being applied for aflatoxins detection in food products with many advantages over the traditional methods.

Findings

Biosensors are cost-effective, stable and have possessed high selectivity, specificity and accuracy in aflatoxins detection. Applying biosensors has been increased recently, so biosensing methods (optical, electrochemical, piezoelectrical, immunosensors, surface plasmon resonance and calorimetric) are discussed along with their advantages in this article.

Research limitations/implications

More efforts should be occurred to detect and decrease the aflatoxins by biosensors, and some traits like accuracy and selectivity would be the purpose of future projects. The combination of various techniques would also help in toxin detection issue in food products, so high efforts in this regard are also required for the upcoming years.

Originality/value

This article also reviews different types of biosensors simultaneously and explains their specificity for aflatoxin determination in different food products and also the future trends and requirements.

Details

Nutrition & Food Science , vol. 53 no. 8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0034-6659

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 21 November 2023

Lochan Singh and Vijay Singh Sharanagat

Nature and occurrence of food-borne pathogens in raw and processed food products evolved greatly in the past few years due to new modes of transmission and resistance build-up…

133

Abstract

Purpose

Nature and occurrence of food-borne pathogens in raw and processed food products evolved greatly in the past few years due to new modes of transmission and resistance build-up against sundry micro-/macro-environmental conditions. Assurance of food health and safety thus gained immense importance, for which bio-sensing technology proved very promising in the detection and quantification of food-borne pathogens. Considering the importance, different studies have been performed, and different biosensors have been developed. This study aims to summarize the different biosensors used for the deduction of food-borne pathogens.

Design/methodology/approach

The present review highlights different biosensors developed apropos to food matrices, factors governing their selection, their potential and applicability. The paper discusses some related key challenges and constraints and also focuses on the needs and future research prospects in this field.

Findings

The shift in consumers’ and industries’ perceptions directed the further approach to achieve portable, user and environmental friendly biosensing techniques. Despite of these developments, it was still observed that the comparison among the different biosensors and their categories proved tedious on a single platform; since the food matrices tested, pathogen detected or diagnosed, time of detection, etc., varied greatly and very few products have been commercially launched. Conclusively, a challenge lies in front of food scientists and researchers to maintain pace and develop techniques for efficiently catering to the needs of the food industry.

Research limitations/implications

Biosensors deduction limit varied with the food matrix, type of organism, material of biosensors’ surface, etc. The food matrix itself consists of complex substances, and various types of food are available in nature. Considering the diversity of food there is a need to develop a universal biosensor that can be used for all the food matrices for a pathogen. Further research is needed to develop a pathogen-specific biosensor that can be used for all the food products that may have accuracy to eliminate the traditional method of deduction.

Originality/value

The present paper summarized and categorized the different types of biosensors developed for food-borne pathogens.

Graphical abstract

Details

Nutrition & Food Science , vol. 54 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0034-6659

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 15 September 2022

Saima Habib, Farzana Kishwar and Zulfiqar Ali Raza

The purpose of this study is to apply silver nanoparticles on the cellulosic fabric via a green cross-linking approach to obtain antibacterial textiles. The cellulosic fabrics may…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to apply silver nanoparticles on the cellulosic fabric via a green cross-linking approach to obtain antibacterial textiles. The cellulosic fabrics may provide an ideal enclave for microbial growth due to their biodegradable nature and retention of certain nutrients and moisture usually required for microbial colonization. The application of antibacterial finish on the textile surfaces is usually done via synthetic cross-linkers, which, however, may cause toxic effects and halt the biodegradation process.

Design/methodology/approach

Herein, we incorporated citrate moieties on the cellulosic fabric as eco-friendly crosslinkers for the durable and effective application of nanosilver finish. The nanosilver finish was then applied on the citrate-treated cellulosic fabric under the pad-dry-cure method and characterized the specimens for physicochemical, textile and antibacterial properties.

Findings

The results expressed that the as-prepared silver particles possessed spherical morphology with their average size in the nano range and zeta potential being −40 ± 5 mV. The results of advanced analytical characterization demonstrated the successful application of nanosilver on the cellulosic surface with appropriate dispersibility.

Practical implications

The nanosilver-treated fabric exhibited appropriate textile and comfort and durable broad-spectrum antibacterial activity.

Originality/value

The treated cellulosic fabric expressed that the cross-linking, crystalline behavior, surface chemistry, roughness and amphiphilicity could affect some of its comfort and textile properties yet be in the acceptable range for potential applications in medical textiles and environmental sectors.

Details

Pigment & Resin Technology, vol. 53 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0369-9420

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 29 July 2022

Khaled Mostafa, Mohamed Ramadan and Azza El-Sanabary

This study aims to address a comprehensive and integrated investigations pertaining to the preparation of AgNPs with well-defined nano-sized scale using the aforementioned poly…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to address a comprehensive and integrated investigations pertaining to the preparation of AgNPs with well-defined nano-sized scale using the aforementioned poly (meth acrylic acid [MAA])–chitosan graft copolymer, which is cheap, nontoxic, biodegradable and biocompatible agent as a substitute for the traditionally used toxic reducing agents.

Design/methodology/approach

AgNPs are prepared under a range of conditions, containing silver nitrate and poly (MAA)–chitosan graft copolymer concentrations, time, temperature and pH of the preparation medium. To classify AgNPs obtained under the various conditions, ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy spectra and transmission electron microscopy images are used for characterization of AgNPs instrumentally in addition to the visual color change throughout the work. The work was further extended to study the application of the so prepared AgNPs on cotton fabric to see their suitability as antibacterial agent as well as their durability after certain washing cycles.

Findings

According to the current investigation, the optimal conditions for AgNPs formation of nearly 3–15 nm in size are 5 g/l, poly (MAA)–chitosan graft copolymer and 300 ppm AgNO3 in addition to carrying out the reaction at 60°C for 30 min at pH 12. Besides, the application of the so prepared AgNPs on cotton fabric displayed a substantial reduction in antibacterial efficiency against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria estimated even after 10 washing cycles in comparison with untreated one.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ information, no comprehensive study of the synthesis of AgNPs using poly (MAA)–chitosan graft copolymer with a graft yield of 48% has been identified in the literature.

Details

Pigment & Resin Technology, vol. 53 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0369-9420

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 16 October 2023

Reetu Yadav, Mamta Kushwah, Anna Nikolaevna Berlina and Mulayam Singh Gaur

The purpose of this study is determination of cadmium using silver-gold bimetallic nanoparticles (Ag-Au BMNPs) and an aptamer modified glassy carbon electrode.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is determination of cadmium using silver-gold bimetallic nanoparticles (Ag-Au BMNPs) and an aptamer modified glassy carbon electrode.

Design/methodology/approach

The maximum response of modified electrode was obtained with, 50 mV pulse amplitude, 20 mV/s scan rate in phosphate buffer of pH 4.0. Ag-Au BMNPs, as the mediators improved electron transmit during the entire electron transfer process and the aptasensor response. Herein, the authors used aptamer as the capture probe to prepare an aptasensor with enhanced stability.

Findings

The proposed aptasensor exhibited a wide linearity to cadmium in the range of 0.001–0.100 µg/L with a low detection limit of 0.005×10−3 µg/L. The glassy carbon electrodes with Ag-Au BMNPs showed a lower detection limit.

Originality/value

This aptasensor has good reproducibility, stability and repeatability and is cost-effective to regenerate. The specificity and selectivity of the novel modified electrode is tested in the presence of other interfering metal ions such as Fe2+, Mn2+, Mg2+, Sb3+ and Bi3+. The aptasensor shows 10 times more sensitivity and selectivity for Cd2+ ions.

Details

Sensor Review, vol. 43 no. 5/6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0260-2288

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 5 June 2023

Yidong Zhang

The purpose of this paper is to study the electronic transport performance of Ag-ZnO film under dark and UV light conditions.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the electronic transport performance of Ag-ZnO film under dark and UV light conditions.

Design/methodology/approach

Ag-doped ZnO thin films were prepared on fluorine thin oxide (FTO) substrates by sol-gel method. The crystal structure of ZnO and Ag-ZnO powders was tested by X-ray diffraction with Cu Kα radiation. The absorption spectra of ZnO and Ag-ZnO films were recorded by a UV–visible spectrophotometer. The micro electrical transport performance of Ag-ZnO thin films in dark and light state was investigated by photoassisted conductive atomic force microscope (PC-AFM).

Findings

The results show that the dark reverse current of Ag-ZnO films does not increase, but the reverse current increases significantly under illumination, indicating that the response of Ag-ZnO films to light is greatly improved, owing to the formation of Ohmic contact.

Originality/value

To the best of the author’s knowledge, the micro electrical transport performance of Ag-ZnO thin films in dark and light state was firstly investigated by PC-AFM.

Details

Microelectronics International, vol. 41 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1356-5362

Keywords

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