Detection of Food Contaminants Based on Dual‐Mode Electrochemical and Optical Aptasensors: A Review

ABSTRACT

Food safety is crucial for human health, and the development of rapid and sensitive detection technologies is of great significance for pollutant monitoring. The integration of electrochemical and optical approaches in dual‐mode aptamer (APT) sensors has been shown to enhance detection reliability via complementary signal verification. While current implementations focus mainly on single‐target detection, the modularity of APT recognition elements and the multiplexing capability of optical readouts such as surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and fluorescence, provide a clear route toward simultaneous ultratrace monitoring of multiple contaminants in future developments. This review comprehensively evaluated the working principles and analytical performance of dual‐mode sensors, including electrochemical‐colorimetric, electrochemical‐fluorescent, and electrochemical‐SERS, among others, as well as focused on the impact of their integrated signal amplification strategies on sensitivity and detection range. Studies have shown that dual‐mode sensors perform well in the laboratory, but still face some challenges such as insufficient stability of nanomaterials, limited multi‐target detection capability of APTs and high cost of equipment. In order to further promote its practical application in the field of food safety, this paper also provided theoretical framework on the optimization and innovation of dual‐modal sensing technology, to facilitate the construction of an efficient food contaminant monitoring system.