Biosensors for food allergy detection according to specific IgE levels in serum

Abstract People respond differently to food components, which can sometimes cause dramatic and unpredictable effects, such as intolerance, toxicity and allergy, and are a major global problem today. Of all the different reactions induced by food allergens, the most frequent are hypersensitivity mediated by specific immunoglobulins E (IgE). The in vitro biosensing of specific IgE levels is an alternative approach to invasive risky in vivo tests for diagnosing food allergy in humans. This work reviews the current analytical approaches in food-specific IgE biosensing, including immunochemical and lateral flow assays, electrochemical biosensors, array technologies, nanomaterial-based techniques, label-free sensors and microfluidic systems. The aim is to draw a closer more stimulating scenario for innovation in the food allergies topic. Perspectives on the future of biosensor technology applied to in vitro IgE determinations are also offered from an analytical viewpoint.