Electrochemiluminescent and photoelectrochemical aptasensors based on quantum dots for mycotoxins and pesticides analysis

Abstract Food contamination is a matter of serious concern, as the high concentration of chemicals present in edibles poses serious health risks. The development of highly sensitive methods to check for the presence of certain substances in food is therefore becoming necessary. In this context, there is a growing interest in the application of aptamer-based approaches for food analysis in response to these significant challenges. Given their unique chemical and physical properties, quantum dots (QDs) are widely used as nanosensors in several research fields. In this work, QD-based electrochemiluminescent and photoelectrochemical aptamer sensors are discussed, focusing on their specific applications on mycotoxins and pesticides as examples of food contaminants of most concern for health. The chapter covers the latest trends for food contaminant detection. The most recent approaches (within the past 4 years) are emphasized while other older but still interesting approaches are also described.