Microfluidic strategies for sample separation and rapid detection of food allergens

Background: Foodborne illnesses caused by food allergens are common public health problems and have become an important source of medical burden. Allergens detection in food is a very difficult task because they usually present in trace amounts and are interfered by compounds of the constituting food matrix. Traditional methods for allergen detection can be mainly divided into three large groups: immunoassay, nucleic acid analysis and mass spectrometry. However, these methods are time-consuming, laborious and often require skilled technicians. Thus, it is necessary to develop a rapid, efficient and reliable method for the analysis of food allergens. Scope and approach: This paper reviewed the latest advances of microfluidics on food allergen analysis. The key technologies of developing a fully integrated microfluidic platform were illustrated, including sample separation, on-chip allergen detection, system integration and automation, etc. Challenges and future perspectives of practical application of this technology were further discussed. Key findings and conclusions: Microfluidic technology has opened up a new way for rapid and effective detection of food allergens. The low sample/reagent volume consumption and the integration of detection make microfluidic technology an ideal choice for on-site use and more convenient to consumers.