Biossensores para aflatoxinas com emprego de aptâmeros: uma análise cienciométrica

Abstract

The damages caused by food and commodity contamination by aflatoxins are not only economic but primarily public health-related, given that their carcinogenicity has been proven. The existence of legislation in various countries establishing maximum permitted limits in food and feed underscores their importance. Molecular tools are innovative in this field, with studies focusing on aptamers specificity and sensitivity, reduced analysis time, and biosensor development. This scientometric study portrays the state of the art over time from its beginnings in 2012 to 2023. Bioinformatics aids in processing data generated by omics sciences, providing means to swiftly search, organize, and compare this information in an orderly manner according to the user's interest. One of its tools, Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment (SELEX), also known as in vitro selection or in vitro evolution, plays a significant role in aptamer design. The pursuit of technologies that provide early evidence of aflatoxigenic fungus presence or any intermediaries of aflatoxin biosynthesis in the field, during storage, or processing would be a significant step for food safety. It was found that investments in the area are still necessary to develop a methodology with the following attributes: sensitive, specific, portable, and low-cost. Furthermore, it was noted that interest in this topic remains prominent, as evidenced by scientific production located in the Capes portal and the Web of Science database.