Metal−Organic Frameworks as Innovative Platforms in the Design of Electrochemical Sensors for Mycotoxin Detection

Mycotoxins are toxic compounds with significant risks to human and animal health due to its presence in contaminated food and feed. The conventional methods for detecting mycotoxins include chromatographic techniques which are sensitive but often costly and time-consuming. Alternative methosds involve the use of electrochemical sensors which have demonstrated promising results. This review explores the innovative use of metal−organic frameworks (MOFs) as platforms for electrochemical sensors in mycotoxin detection. Integrating MOFs into electrochemical devices has led to the development of various sensor types, including MOF composites and MOF−based biosensors, which demonstrate high stability, low detection limits, and applicability across different food samples. Key findings indicate that MOF−based sensors can achieve dection limits in the femtogram range and recoveries rates around 100% in real samples such as milk, juices or cereas. Moreover, these systems show excellent selectivity, even in the presence of interfering compouns. In this work, we addressed recent advancements in MOF−modified electrochemical sensors, detailing their key role, functionality, and practical applications in detecting important mycotoxins such as aflatoxins, deoxynivalenol, and ochratoxin, among others. It concludes with an evaluation of the challenges and prospects in the field, emphasizing the potential of MOFs to revolutionize mycotoxin detection and ensure food safety.