13 - Recent advances in the direct and nanomaterials-based matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometric approaches for rapid characterization and identification of foodborne pathogens

Abstract

In recent years, significant progress has been made in the development of nanomaterials (NMs)-based matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometric (MALDI-MS) approaches for rapid detection of foodborne pathogens in food samples. For this reason, a comprehensive literature survey has been carried out aiming to give an overview in the field of foodborne pathogens detection by direct MALDI-MS and NMs-MALDI-MS. New NMs-based MALDI-MS techniques for food pathogen detection are being developed to improve the performance of MALDI-MS with regard to sensitivity and selectivity, which is also rapid, reliable, effective, and suitable for in situ analysis. This chapter presents recent advances in the development of alternative bioanalytical techniques for detection of foodborne pathogens by direct MALDI-MS and NMs-based MALDI-MS in food samples. The role of NMs in pathogen detection by MALDI-MS and their tremendous roles in the development of miniaturized analytical methods for detection of pathogenic bacteria are overviewed. Special attention is paid to methods for improving the analytical parameters of direct and NMs-based MALDI-MS, including sensitivity and analysis time as well as automation of assay procedures. Future directions for NMs-MALDI-MS-based biosensor development and problems related to the commercialization of bacterial biosensors are discussed in the final part of the proposed book chapter.