Critical review of new advances in food and plant proteomics analyses by nano-LC/MS towards advanced foodomics

Food safety and quality are rising global issues while foodomics is rapidly becoming an important field of study, which promises significant outcomes related to food science due to the urgent need to address many of the most important questions facing humanity today. Food and plant proteomics as a tool of foodomics are relatively new entries in the field of food safety and quality as well as food bioactivity and health, which would yield new integrative and quantitative information, and consequently new functions of food and improved biomarkers for food safety and quality as well as bioactivity. The use of powerful analytical instruments such as nano-liquid chromatography (nano-LC) is needed in order to achieve its great analytical potential. Nano-LC coupled with mass spectrometry (Nano-LC/MS) has become the primary tool for proteomics as an indispensable technology for gaining understanding of complex food molecular processes. In recent decade, significant advances in relation to food and plant proteomics analysis by means of nano-LC/MS have been achieved. Among other advances, food nanoproteomics analyzing biological assemblies in food such as exosome, probiotics and microbial ingredients can reveal critical information in modern food science. This review article will focus on the role of nano-LC in food and plant proteomics analysis towards advanced foodomics. Special attention is given to recent food and plant proteomics applications and overview of recent studies (mostly the years between 2018-early 2024) by means of nano-LC/MS. In addition, it will give an overview of the current state of various food and plant proteomics strategies with discussion on future directions and perspectives of this technique as well as recent achievements in view of new findings regarding foodomics.