Advances in aptamers, and application of mycotoxins detection: A review

Mycotoxin contamination in food products can easily cause serious health hazards and economic losses to human beings. How to accurately detect and effectively control mycotoxin contamination has become a global concern. Mycotoxins conventional detection techniques e.g; ELISA, HPLC, have limitations like, low sensitivity, high cost and time-consuming. Aptamer-based biosensing technology has the advantages of high sensitivity, high specificity, wide linear range, high feasibility, and non-destructiveness, which overcomes the shortcomings of conventional analysis techniques. This review summarizes the sequences of mycotoxin aptamers that have been reported so far. Based on the application of four classic POST-SELEX strategies, it also discusses the bioinformatics-assisted POST-SELEX technology in obtaining optimal aptamers. Furthermore, trends in the study of aptamer sequences and their binding mechanisms to targets is also discussed. The latest examples of aptasensor detection of mycotoxins are classified and summarized in detail. Newly developed dual-signal detection, dual-channel detection, multi-target detection and some types of single-signal detection combined with unique strategies or novel materials in recent years are focused. Finally, the challenges and prospects of aptamer sensors in the detection of mycotoxins are discussed. The development of aptamer biosensing technology provides a new approach with multiple advantages for on-site detection of mycotoxins. Although aptamer biosensing shows great development potential, still some challenges and difficulties are there in practical applications. Future research need high focus on the practical applications of aptasensors and the development of convenient and highly automated aptamers. This may lead to the transition of aptamer biosensing technology from laboratory to commercialization.