Progress in research on smartphone-assisted MIP optosensors for the on-site detection of food hazard factors

Abstract

The development of food hazard factor (FHF) detection has been tending towards on-site inspection and mobile law enforcement, and simple, fast and affordable analysis technology is especially needed to ensure food safety and quality. This review comprehensively summarizes the progress in research on smartphone-assisted MIP optosensors, including their construction, molecular recognition and signal response mechanisms, and promising applications for on-site FHF detection. The types of fluorescent response elements and the methods for achieving integration between fluorescent response elements, and MIPs are further discussed. Importantly, state-of-the-art applications of smartphone-assisted MIP sensors in the field of food safety for on-site FHF detection based on single-, dual-, and multi-emission fluorescence responses are comprehensively summarized. This review focuses on the key issues of the accuracy and sensitivity of smartphone-assisted sensors and notes that the integration of highly selective MIPs and highly sensitive fluorescent response elements can significantly improve the feasibility of smartphone-assisted on-site detection.