Recent Advances and Applications of Metal-organic Framework-based Solid-phase Extraction in Food Safety

Abstract: Metal-organic framework (MOF)-based solid-phase extraction (SPE) is an emerging platform in the analytical field, focusing on the extraction of food contaminants, primarily pesticide and antibiotic residues. MOFs, with their high surface area, accessible pore size, and functionalized frameworks, offer enhanced selectivity and sensitivity for detecting contaminants in complex food matrices. Analysis of pesticide and antibiotic residues is a critical aspect of ensuring food safety. Pesticides and antibiotics are largely used to improve crop and dairy production to meet public demand, which has led to the accumulation of residues in agricultural and dairy products, making their detection and quantification essential. Various analytical techniques are employed for extraction and sample preparation prior to detection using instrumental methods such as GC, HPLC, and other hyphenated techniques. Integrating MOFs into SPE has facilitated the development of more environmentally friendly extraction methods by reducing solvent usage and hazardous waste production. This review highlights key breakthroughs in MOF synthesis, functionalization strategies, and their practical applications in food safety analysis. Case studies on pesticide and antibiotic detection demonstrate the superior performance of MOF-based SPE over conventional methods. Future research directions are proposed to further enhance the sustainability and efficiency of these innovative extraction techniques.