Recent developments and applications of nanomaterial-based lab-on-a-chip devices for sustainable agri-food industries

Abstract

Lab-on-a-chip (LOC) devices have attracted considerable scientific attention due to their ability to incorporate multiple complex analytical processes onto a single chip. Such miniaturised devices can reduce most large-scale laboratory processes to small chips. This review discusses the recent developments and applications of nanomaterial-based LOC devices for sustainable food and agricultural industries. First, we present a brief introduction to this topic. We then highlight the applications of nanomaterial-based LOC devices in the food and agriculture industries. In the subsequent section, we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of such devices in food screening. Finally, we conclude the review by providing the future perspectives of this promising field for detecting and monitoring important analytes in food and agricultural products. Due to the miniaturisation of the entire assay, a minute sample is needed to perform the complete analysis quickly, thereby increasing the efficiency of the overall process. Thus, by exploiting the unique electrical, optical, and physical properties of the nanomaterials onto such LOCs, several properties of the sensing process can be improved, including the ability to selectively label the target analytes and thereby improve the overall sensitivity of the process. Such nanomaterial-based LOC devices have considerable potential in identifying nucleic acid , proteinic, and cellular components from complex food and agricultural samples with high specificity and, therefore, can be applied in the continuous monitoring of multiple agri-food analytes to ensure sustainability and food safety. Recent developments and applications of nanomaterial-based lab-on-a-chip devices for sustainable agri-food industries. Image created using BioRender and Canva. • Lab-on-a-chip (LOC) devices allow multiple analytical processes on a single chip. • LOC maximize efficiency and accuracy with miniaturised assays. • Unlock enhanced capabilities by integrating nanomaterials with LOC devices. • Identify key components in food & agricultural samples with high precision. • LOC devices hold a promising future in food & agricultural monitoring.