About this Research Topic
Food safety and quality are key objectives that have attracted steadily growing attention from scientists, the food industry, and consumers worldwide. The key concern for food safety mainly includes biological contaminants (e.g. foodborne pathogenic microorganisms, bacteria, viruses, and fungi), chemical contaminants (e.g. pesticides, veterinary drugs/antibiotics, toxins, heavy metals, and packaging materials/food contact materials), and allergens. Food quality is another key issue, including proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, mineral composition, vitamins, nutrients and related metabolites.
Nowadays, these objectives are challenged by the need for increased sensitivity, specificity, speed, and high throughput of applied analytical methods. Thanks to the vital growth of analytical science, food safety can be better ensured by new advanced strategies. For example, emerging analytical techniques for higher sensitivity include (among others) spectroscopic, electrochemical, electrical, and magnetic detection. Higher specificity can be attained through recognition at the molecular level, using biomolecules such as different types of antibodies and antibody fragments, aptamers, or affine polymers such as molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs). To improve speed, rapid sample preparation (like the streamlined QuEChERS methods) and on-site lateral flow assays are under development. Additionally, micro total analysis systems (µTAS) as a high-throughput technology are increasingly being utilized. For high throughput analysis, novel analysis strategies are highly in demand for multiple targets, such as microarray, advanced UPLC-MS/MS.
The aim of this Research Topic is to provide a state-of-the-art overview of analytical aspects of food safety assessment, i.e. the development and application of highly sensitive, specific, and rapid assays. We welcome both original research and review papers from groups of leading experts in the field. Multi-class topics in all areas of rapid assay, from fundamental research to applied research, can be covered. Major topics can include, but are not limited to:
• Analytical techniques in food safety and quality
• GMO analysis/food authentication
• Screening analytical methods, Arbitration analytical methods
• LC-MS, GC-MS
• Spectroscopic analysis
• Magnetic analysis
• Electrochemical analysis
• Mechanics-based analysis
• Lab-on-a-chip, Lab-on-a-paper, or Lab-on-a-disc
• Microfluidic chips, microarray
• Field effect transistor-based analysis
• Analysis of physicochemical indices
Nowadays, these objectives are challenged by the need for increased sensitivity, specificity, speed, and high throughput of applied analytical methods. Thanks to the vital growth of analytical science, food safety can be better ensured by new advanced strategies. For example, emerging analytical techniques for higher sensitivity include (among others) spectroscopic, electrochemical, electrical, and magnetic detection. Higher specificity can be attained through recognition at the molecular level, using biomolecules such as different types of antibodies and antibody fragments, aptamers, or affine polymers such as molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs). To improve speed, rapid sample preparation (like the streamlined QuEChERS methods) and on-site lateral flow assays are under development. Additionally, micro total analysis systems (µTAS) as a high-throughput technology are increasingly being utilized. For high throughput analysis, novel analysis strategies are highly in demand for multiple targets, such as microarray, advanced UPLC-MS/MS.
The aim of this Research Topic is to provide a state-of-the-art overview of analytical aspects of food safety assessment, i.e. the development and application of highly sensitive, specific, and rapid assays. We welcome both original research and review papers from groups of leading experts in the field. Multi-class topics in all areas of rapid assay, from fundamental research to applied research, can be covered. Major topics can include, but are not limited to:
• Analytical techniques in food safety and quality
• GMO analysis/food authentication
• Screening analytical methods, Arbitration analytical methods
• LC-MS, GC-MS
• Spectroscopic analysis
• Magnetic analysis
• Electrochemical analysis
• Mechanics-based analysis
• Lab-on-a-chip, Lab-on-a-paper, or Lab-on-a-disc
• Microfluidic chips, microarray
• Field effect transistor-based analysis
• Analysis of physicochemical indices
Keywords: Biosensing, antibodies, aptamers, nanomaterials, LC(GC)/MS, food and feed safety assessment
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
