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Received: 27March 2015
Received in revised form: 7 January 2016
Accepted: 21 January 2016
Keywords
Nanotechnology
Nanomaterial
Biosensors
Food safety and quality control
Abstract
Nanotechnology contribute to significant impacts in every way in our daily life. Recently, the application of nanotechnology in biosensors has been a trend in developing a highly sensitive, selective, quick response, inexpensive, high volume production, great reliability and miniaturized sensors. High demands on the production of rapid sensors for food safety and quality control purposes are increasingly become the interest for researchers all over the world. This is because, in food sector, the quality of a certain product is based on their periodic chemical and microbilogical analysis. The uses of nanomaterials in biosensors are very promising because they mediate current flow. Surface modification of the electrode based on various nanomaterials including nanoparticle, nanofiber, nanowire and nanotube significantly increase the performance of the biosensor. Ultimately, this implementation will enhance the sensor's sensitivity and stability. This review explores the previous research and development work on nanomaterials-based sensors for food applications.
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Introduction
Biosensor is a well-known rapid alternative detection method which implements the use of biological components that will react with a target molecule or sample. Transducer is needed to translate this reaction into a measurable or detectable signal (Maragos and Thompson, 1999). Fabrication of biological components such as an antibody, enzyme, nucleic acid (DNA), cell structure or tissue onto the surface of transducer is a very important step in developing a biosensor (Monosik et al., 2012). Prior to fabrication of biological components, the surface of electrode are recommended to be modified to enhance the attachment of bioreceptor element and subsequently maximize the current, resulting from the signal produced. Enzymatic biosensor, genosensor and immunosensor can be divided into several type of transduction process or energy transfer, which is electrochemical, calorimetric, acoustic, thermal, optical, piezoelectric, electromagnetic and mechanical. However, electrochemical transducer is regconized as the most sensitive and selective analytical method (Ahammad et al, 2009).
Biosensors have a wide range of application, namely in health diagnostics, medical engineering, environmental analysis, food safety and quality control and detection of toxic metabolites. Advancement of biosensors in recent years is because that they provide rapid, real-time, reduce labour, time and cost...