Single-Molecule Detection of Proteins and Toxins in Food Using Atomic Force Microscopy

Conclusions.Cantilever sensing and recognition imaging are found to be the appropriate AFM techniques for detection. Their shared functionalization approaches are outlined for two categories of surfaces: silicon and gold. Recent progress in AFM biosensors and their applications to food toxin detection are discussed. Single-molecule sensitivity and ease of designing sensing schemes make these AFM techniques excellent candidates for real-world application. Existing challenges in designing sensing molecules and preventing the food matrix from confounding signals are not only applicable to AFM techniques but to most current biosensors. Through the collaboration among materials science, chemistry, and molecular biology, solving these issues will promote significant advancement in AFM-based food toxin detection.Graphical abstractBesides different detection operation modes of AFM, a recognition element can be coupled to an AFM to produce an instrument that is capable of providing extraordinarily high sensitivity, high selectivity, and a cost-effective path toward recognizing these contaminants and securing the safety of the food supply.
Source: Trends in Food Science and Technology - Category: Food Science Source Type: research