A Novel SERS Substrate Based on Discarded Oyster Shells for Rapid Detection of Organophosphorus Pesticide

Recent Advances in Nanoparticle-Based Optical Sensors for Detection of Pesticide Residues in Soil

The excessive and unreasonable use of pesticides has adversely affected the environment and human health. The soil, one of the most critical natural resources supporting human survival and development, accumulates large amounts of pesticide residues. Compared to traditional spectrophotometry analytical methods, nanoparticle-based sensors stand out for their simplicity of operation as well as their high sensitivity and low detection limits. In this review, we focus primarily on the functions that various nanoparticles have and how they can be used to detect various pesticide residues in soil. A detailed discussion was conducted on the properties of nanoparticles, including their color changeability, Raman enhancement, fluorescence enhancement and quenching, and catalysis. We have also systematically reviewed the methodology for detecting insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides in soil by using nanoparticles.

Recent Progress in Nanotechnology-Based Approaches for Food Monitoring

Throughout the food supply chain, including production, storage, and distribution, food can be contaminated by harmful chemicals and microorganisms, resulting in a severe threat to human health. In recent years, the rapid advancement and development of nanotechnology proposed revolutionary solutions to solve several problems in scientific and industrial areas, including food monitoring. Nanotechnology can be incorporated into chemical and biological sensors to improve analytical performance, such as response time, sensitivity, selectivity, reliability, and accuracy. Based on the characteristics of the contaminants and the detection methods, nanotechnology can be applied in different ways in order to improve conventional techniques. Nanomaterials such as nanoparticles, nanorods, nanosheets, nanocomposites, nanotubes, and nanowires provide various functions for the immobilization and labeling of contaminants in electrochemical and optical detection. This review summarizes the recent advances in nanotechnology for detecting chemical and biological contaminations in the food supply chain.