Latest developments in the upconversion nanotechnology for the rapid detection of food safety: A review

Abstract

Abstract Food safety has become a topic of global concern in the recent decades. The significant food safety incidents occur from time to time around the world, seriously threatening the public health and causing extensive economic losses. In particular, the occurrence of COVID-19 highlights the importance of the food safety for the public health. Therefore, there is an urgent need to establish a fast, simple, sensitive, and efficient method for the detection of food safety. In recent years, the upconversion (UC) nanotechnology has been widely used in the field of food detection. The UC fluorescence analysis technology possesses the advantages of ultra-sensitivity detection, non-invasiveness, light stability, etc., and has broad application prospects in the field of food safety. After cladding and surface modification, it can be combined with other substances through a variety of mechanisms, such as electrostatic interaction, thereby expanding its application in the food safety detection. Thus, overall, there is a vital need to evaluate and utilize the potential of UC nanoparticles in the field of rapid detection of food safety.