Label-free electrochemical biosensors for food and drug application

In food sector, there is a huge demand for rapid, reliable, user & eco-friendly biosensors to analyse the quality and safety of food products. Biosensor based methodology depends upon the recognition of a specific antigens or receptors by corresponding antibodies, aptamers or high-affinity ligands. The first scientifically commercialised sensors were the electrochemical sensors used for the analysis of multiple analytes. An electrochemical sensor is a device that produces analytical electrical signals based on a recognition element with an electrochemical transduction component. Utilization of nanomaterials (e.g. quantum dots, nanoparticles and nanowires) can significantly improve limits of detection of such devices. Electrical methods are ideally suitable for implementation of label-free detection approaches, which give a number of the advantages for the biomedical assays. Nanomaterials and modern microfabrication techniques gives the possibility of miniaturization and multiplex sensing. These make electrical methods more promising for applications in the point-of-care. This review gives an overview of alternative label-free electrochemical nanobiosensors in food analysis, safety and control management. The underlying principles and applications of these biosensors are discussed. Recent developments in biosensor systems with an electrochemical detection are also presented.