Revolutionizing melamine detection: Cutting-edge advances from traditional analyses to state-of-the-art electrochemical sensors

The scientific community has struggled to monitor harmful and toxic chemicals with the goal of improving both human health and the environment. Melamine (1, 3, 5-triazine-2, 4, 6-triamine, C3H6N6) is a cyanamide trimer used primarily to produce plastics, melamine formaldehyde, flame retardants, coatings, adhesives, insecticides, fertilizer, and kitchenware. Melamine is usually added illegally to dairy products, food and pet food to boost its protein content due to its high nitrogen content (66 %), which poses severe health risks. Therefore, it is vital to create efficient, reliable, and robust analytical methods for the detection of melamine. This review begins with a brief discussion of conventional melamine detection methods, such as chromatography, electrophoresis, capillary electrophoresis, and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Among many detection methods, electrochemical sensors have garnered considerable interest in detection due to their high sensitivity, selectivity, short analysis time, and simplicity of use. The review ends with a conclusive note focusing on the current challenges and future perspectives of the development of advanced electrochemical sensors. This review will inspire future research on nanomaterial-based electrochemical sensing for the determination of melamine with novel ideas

Exploring advanced functional nanomaterial-based electrochemical sensors for the detection of mycotoxins in food matrices: A comprehensive review

The detection of mycotoxins is a worldwide issue given their significant effects on both food safety and human health. The European Union (EU) has implemented various measures to address mycotoxin contamination and regulate their levels in food and feed. Given the high toxicity of mycotoxins, it is essential to develop a sensor that is sensitive, selective, and practical for their detection. The electrochemical sensing platforms emerge as a feasible analytical instrument for tackling specificity and sensitivity concerns, owing to its cost-effectiveness, efficiency, and user-friendly nature. The present review outlines a variety of electrochemical sensing platforms that have been developed in recent years for the detection of mycotoxins. Initially, it provides an overview of electrochemical sensors, both nonenzymatic and enzymatic featuring diverse bioreceptors such as immunosensors, aptasensors, and enzymatic sensors, all geared towards detecting mycotoxins. The subsequent section provides further details on electrochemical sensors that are portable, wireless, and compatible with smartphones. In summary, the review sought to offer valuable perspectives on the existing challenges and prospective advancements in electrochemical sensor technology