Compounds derived from natural sources, as well as industrial and agricultural waste, are examples of food contaminants. Food contaminants found naturally are mostly of microbiological origin, including pathogenic organisms and some other fungal and bacterial toxins. Food is among the most significant priority for public security because it is one of most basic components of living organisms. As a result, precautions are needed to make sure that food stuffs are exempt from contaminants that enter the food supply via food handling, manufacturing, and dispersion. At the moment, people are increasingly concerned with the accuracy, convenience, and efficiency of food quality and safety testing. Many traditional detection methods, on the other hand, have drawbacks such as inconvenient operation, interference factors, and long detection times. Nanomaterials can also be used to monitor the lifespan of preserved foods. These can be developed to fluoresce when exposed to food pathogens chemical or contaminants, acting as a sensor for detecting small traces of contaminants. As a result, functionalized nanomaterials with higher selectivity and sensitivity, such as pesticides, veterinary drugs, heavy metals, additives, and synthetic pigments, pathogenic bacteria, and mycotoxins, are widely used in food detection. This paper investigates the use of noble nanomaterials that can be precisely positioned in food quality and safety detection.
Introduction
Numerous nanoparticles exist, including metallic NPs, polymeric NPs, and magnetic NPs. NPs also can have multiple functionalities, including such hydrophobicity or hydrophilicity, and that has a significant impact on their implementations. Noble metal NPs (NMNPS) have a high multifunctionality due to their physical–chemical properties. Nanoparticles of noble metal, such as AgNPs, AuNPs,and PtNPs, have high level of stability, are simple to synthesize, and can have their surface functionalization tuned. NPs have two significant applications about food control: assessing toxic compounds (like mycotoxins, pesticides, and so on) and biologically active compounds (nutrients, anti-oxidant substances, proteins, etc.).
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Recently, the application of noble metal nanoparticles as a substitute for traditional methods of assessment was proposed. NPs have the potential to increase analytical precision, high accuracy, detection limits, as well as sample quantity, thus also broadening the practical wide variety of food applications.
Contaminants are biological or chemical components which are not deliberately added to food and could be noticeable as a result of different phases of production, manufacturing, or shipping. They are also capable of causing environmental pollution.
Xenobiotics can contaminate food as man-made pollutants by way of the environment, land, and water. This however at low concentrations have negative consequences for living creatures (Chenet et al., 2018). Food safety legislation has emerged as a top priority in order to strictly regulate Production of food, manufacturing, stockpiling, and xenobiotic tolerance in order to prevent the emergence of unsafe substances.
Traditional methods, for example spectrophotometric or chromatographic methods, are typically used to determine such species as food sources. As food manufacture and supply become more globalized, food pollution poses a number of threats from both natural and human activities. (Akrami-Mohajeri et al., 2018; Derakhshan et al., 2018). This includes biological and chemical pollutants, drugs, external hazards and microbial organisms. Foodborne organisms have emerged as a leading issue within the food industry. Spite of the progress in advanced analytics and the implementation of food laws, the prevalence of foodborne illnesses has not decreased (Havelaar et al., 2015).
Food nanopackaging, food nanosensing, ingredients with nanostructures in food, and food nutrient delivery are just a few of the applications for nanomaterials in the food manufacturing, as well as in nutritional science (Kaya-Celiker and Mallikarjunan, 2012; Ravichandran, 2010). Uncertainties and health issues, however, are emerging as a result of their probable cytotoxicity and hazards to environment and health. (Buzby, 2010). Even successful nanotechnology applications in food are still rare. To overcome this barrier, novel nanomaterials with high effectiveness and security must be developed.
There has already been significant progress in nanotechnology in current years, including the creation of specifically designed nanostructures for analytical techniques. For food safety control, the viability of employing a wide range of inorganic nanomaterials like silver, gold, and Pt was investigated. A few of the most significant advancements with this field in recent years are described and analyzed in this review. The goal is to concentrate on effective applications of noble nanomaterials using modern techniques with a specific focus on detection of food additives and contaminants. Specifically, Au, Ag NPs delivering excellent results in order to detect food contaminants and pollutant is outlined here.
Determination of Contaminants
Even after food handlers' endeavors, pathogen adaptation technologies enable foodborne pathogens to survive and thrive. Microbial contaminants seem to be the most commonly notified foodborne causative factors (Sugrue et al., 2019). Innumerable foodborne epidemics have emphasized the threats about foodborne diseases, prompting the design and technology for execution of scheme (e.g., HACCP systems) to sharply and delicately identify biotoxins and food pathogens (Anderson et al., 2014).
There are two types of food-borne biotoxins.: intrinsic and extrinsic foodborne biotoxins. Bacterial endotoxins could be produced through epithelial autolysis, peripheral lysis, or cytolytic digestion. But bacterial exotoxins like mycotoxins, enterotoxins, and hemolysins are ejected from the interstitial spaces directly (Stoev 2015).
Toxins generated by mold as well as other microscopic organisms that induce toxicity both acute and chronic are known as mycotoxins (trichothecenes, aflatoxins, fumonisins, and so on). Depending on the mode of activity, mycotoxins are categorized into four types: poisons that are cytotoxic, neurotoxins, and gastrointestinal allergens, and toxins that produce symptoms whenever ethyl alcohol is consumed. Secondary metabolites of genera Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Fusarium accumulate as mycotoxins, which are commonly observed in food.
Alternariol monomethyl ether (AME), a carcinogenic and mutagenic substance, is available in a diverse selection of fruit and vegetables, and cereals. In a recent article, a method for determining AME was developed. The colorimetric approach for immunosensor relies on AuNP aggregation and a monoclonal antibody was used to modify the properties that unites AME molecules in specimen competitively.
The use of gold nanorods with platinum coating (AuNR@Pt) for the quick and precise identification of staphylococcal enterotoxin B was observed. It was supported by immobilization of a toxin aptamer via a complementary DNA (cDNA) fragment. Ochratoxin A was detected using a hypersensitive surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) aptasensor based on Au(core)@Au-Ag(shell) nanogapped nanostructures.
Carcinogenic Components
Carcinogenic compounds were indeed the substances that have the potential to cause cancer in humans. A colorimetric method based on based on the aggregation of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) by glutathione (GSH) was also created for detecting azodicarbonamide (ADA) in flour commodities.
Melamine and nitrites are commonly found in food as a result of food preservation methods. Jigyasa et al. recently established a melamine detection assay using AgNPs that is based on melamine's interaction with Ag ions. A gold nanoparticlepoly (methylene blue) (GNPPMB)-modified pencil graphite electrode (PGE) was used to detect nitrites. This methodology was employed to samples of mineral water and commercial sausage.
Pesticide
Pesticide residues in vegetables and fruits are among the most serious consumer food safety issues. For detection of atrazine present in apple juice surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) in conjunction with AuNPs and for difenoconazole present in grapes nanoparticle aggregates of core-shell Au@Ag have been used to detect two pesticides. A potential use of AgNPsGO (Graphene Oxide) for the detection of pesticides in food was explored in this research, with promising results by Ma et al.
Allergens and Drugs
Veterinary drugs employed in livestock for food production may end up with some residues in commonly consumed animal products like milk, meat, honey and eggs. As a result, numerous AuNPs applications for detection in food samples have been discovered (Rath et al., 2019).
Unauthorized veterinary drug use is now a major issue. To regulate the illegal use of unfamiliar drugs and drug residue mixtures in farm animals, new detection methods like metabolomics have now been established. This method works by monitoring metabolite changes in body tissues. (Kaufmann et al., 2015).
This intriguing paper discusses the prospect of enhancing the designed immunoassay's signal. The reaction boosted assay responsivity and resulted in a visible color shift from bright red to deep purple which can be seen also with bare eyes. This immunoassay has the potential to be used for simple detection on-site detection in ensuring food safety.
Some techniques also have been devised for antibiotic detection that are being exploited in the animal husbandry and may be discovered as remnants in food derived from animals. These AuNP-based techniques were designed to detect aminoglycoside antibiotics and ceftriaxone in foods derived from animals for example eggs, milk, and meat.
A voltammetry biosensor comprised of a carbon electrode with AuNP-coating was developed. It was used in conjunction with a sandwich immunoassay to recognize peanut allergens in food products.
Bacteria
Certain bacteria must be absent from food for safe consumption since some strains of bacteria are harmful to human health. They are capable of causing diarrhea, fever, typhoid, hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome. Method based on AuNP used lateral flow immunoassay to detect bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli in milk and water.
Bioactive Compound Determination
Gluten
Gluten is found in several cereals that is made up of glutenin and gliadin two proteins. It is indeed the main protein liable for allergic reactions, and the majority of applications of nanoparticles are dependent on it. Numerous immunosensors using modified AuNPs was recently designed in order to measure gliadin in samples of foodstuff. These are also entirely focused on recognition of DNA. Devi et al. recently documented an amperometric immunosensor monosodium glutamate (MSG) detection. The anti-glutamate antibody was encapsulated on the surface of the sensor, which was made with a carbon electrode decorated with gold nanoparticles and a nanocomposite of molybdenum disulfidechitosan (Au@MoS2Ch). Li et al. used sensitive nanoprobes made of gold nanoparticles on graphene oxide to detect L-cysteine easily by optical absorption method. A smartphone-based system was used in this method that performs analysis of multiple modes of hue-saturation-value and lightness, red-green-blue (RGB), and cyan-magenta-yellow-black (CMYK) values.
Antioxidants
Metabolic byproducts of several plants, antioxidants, widely present, particularly in vegetables, are also among the most essential natural compound group. Those have anticarcinogenic, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, which has been illustrated in vivo and in vitro experimental studies. Furthermore, their potential anti-cardiovascular and neurodegenerative consequences have recently been explored.
Della Pelle et al. provided a colorimetric assay for phenolic compound identification. The said technique relied on the formation of gold nanoparticles by phenolic content found in endogenous fat. The intensity of phenolic compounds was associated to the formation of AuNP, which was governed by surface plasmon resonance. Functionalized AuNPs were also used to retrieve phenolic compounds derived from olive oil. This quick and sustainable method was improved by employing a response surface analysis and building a central composite design (CCD) of some parameters among which was the amount of AuNPs or the time spent stirring NPs in oil. The agglomeration or morphological characteristics of AuNPs and AgNPs were also responsible for the development of antioxidant activity in beverages including tea and lemon juice.
Conclusion
Deeper insights exploration on material stability, physicochemical properties is indeed required in the coming years. Bulk manufacturing activities and growing quite automated techniques regarding application also to be realized. Greener and more ecofriendly materials should be designed and developed.
Pollution from heavy metal ions in the eco system has become much pervasive as industry develops. Since these contaminants enter food sources, aquatic animals and plants, started to accrue in the food web, they have a negative impact on human health. As a result, heavy metal detection is a crucial factor of detection of food protection. Several agricultural productions are conveniently affected by various fungal pathogens resulting in food material adulterated with mycotoxins. The significance of mycotoxin is that it causes drastic physical problems also at trace levels.
Analytical methods that are more responsive, sophisticated, productive, and cost-effective need to be developed in the future to ensure food safety, reliability, and greater transparency without jeopardizing dietary, functional, or sensory properties in accordance with relevant legislation and customer expectations.
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