Recent advances in photo/electrochemical biosensing of chemical food contaminants based on the porphyrin-MOFs nanohybrids

The issue of food safety has become a global challenge to public health due to the presence of various contaminants. Photo/electrochemical biosensing technology has shown significant potential for application in food safety and has increasingly emerged as a research hotspot. New materials with controllable structures that are eco-friendly and exhibit high photo/electroactivity, are highly desirable. The incorporation of porphyrin molecules as fundamental components (ligands) in the construction of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) results in the formation of porphyrinic MOFs, which can also integrate functional materials within these frameworks. Conversely, the entrapment of porphyrin molecules within porous MOFs leads to the formation of structures referred to as porphyrin@MOFs. This integration can effectively enhance the photoelectric properties of porphyrins and mitigate their tendency for self-aggregation. Hence, these materials are extremely preferred in photo/electrochemical detecting platforms. This review aims to examine the strengths and weaknesses of porphyrin-MOFs nanohybrids, as well as their mechanisms in photoelectrochemical sensing, electrochemical sensing, optical sensing, and electrochemiluminescence sensing. Moreover, this paper offers a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in porphyrin-MOFs platforms for the detection of pesticides, antibiotics, heavy metal ions, and mycotoxins, highlighting their multiplexing capabilities and sensitivity. Additionally, the limitations and challenges associated with the application of porphyrin-MOF nanohybrids in the efficient and precise assessment of food are also discussed.