Recent advances in multidimensionally regulated nanozyme-integrated biosensors for rapid and ultrasensitive foodborne mycotoxin detection

Mycotoxins pose great risks to global food safety and human public health. Traditional instrumental detection suffers from high equipment costs and complicated procedures, whereas natural enzyme-based rapid assays are restricted by poor structural stability and excessive production costs. These drawbacks greatly limit their practical application in routine food monitoring. Combining unique nanostructural features and intrinsic enzyme-mimicking activity, nanozymes exhibit superior stability and adjustable catalytic properties, emerging as advanced functional materials for mycotoxin analysis. Accordingly, nanozyme-based biosensors have become a rapidly developing research hotspot. This review comprehensively summarizes five-year research advances of four mainstream nanozyme categories. Multi-dimensional regulation of structures, surface properties and chemical compositions can effectively improve their catalytic performance. Based on biorecognition, catalytic signal regulation and quantitative output, colorimetric, fluorescent and electrochemical biosensing platforms are well established for ultra-sensitive detection of typical mycotoxins, with detection limits reaching picogram and femtogram levels. Future directions include rational nanozyme design, sensing innovation, intelligent detection and industrial translation, which will facilitate full-chain mycotoxin monitoring and strengthen food safety management.