Nanomaterial-Enabled Biosensors for Aflatoxin B1 Detection in Complex Food Matrices amid Climate and Dietary Transitions

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a potent carcinogenic mycotoxin that increasingly threatens global food safety in the context of climate change and the increasing consumption of plant-based beverages derived from susceptible raw materials. Although conventional analytical techniques such as liquid chromatography and immunoassays offer robust analytical performance, their routine application in complex foods is often limited by high operational costs, extensive sample preparation, and pronounced matrix interference. To address these constraints, this review critically evaluates recent advances, primarily from the past five years, in nanomaterial-enabled biosensors as a promising strategy for rapid and decentralized AFB1 detection. It highlights how engineered nanomaterials enhance signal transduction and catalytic amplification across colorimetric, electrochemical, and fluorescent platforms. By leveraging these modalities, emerging biosensors can reduce traditional analytical bottlenecks and support cost-effective, ultrasensitive on-site monitoring. Finally, the review outlines key translational challenges, emphasizing rigorous validation in authentic matrices, multiplexed detection to reflect cocontamination, and smartphone-compatible readout to facilitate the translation of these next-generation analytical tools from laboratory prototypes to practical food-safety applications.