Xuelian Hu , Ning Zhang , Siyu Zhang , Wanyue Pang , Guozhen Fang , Shuo Wang , Yiwei Tang
{"title":"Ratiometric fluorescence signals-driven MIP sensors: Advances in construction strategies and applications in food safety hazard factors","authors":"Xuelian Hu , Ning Zhang , Siyu Zhang , Wanyue Pang , Guozhen Fang , Shuo Wang , Yiwei Tang","doi":"10.1016/j.trac.2026.118685","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.trac.2026.118685","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ratiometric fluorescence signals-driven molecularly imprinted polymer (RFSD-MIP) sensors represent a valuable analytical tool with promising applications in food safety hazard factors (FSHFs) monitoring. However, concerns persist regarding real-world applications of traditional MIP-based optical sensors due to poor anti-interference ability and low accuracy. Integrating MIP with dual/multi-emission nanomaterials not only presents viable solutions to these challenges but also expands applications. RFSD-MIP sensors have recently brought about unprecedented changes in precise, reliable, and swift food monitoring. Drawing on RFSD-MIP research for trace FSHFs detection, this review focuses on the sensing modes and underlying mechanisms, as well as the predominant components essential for constructing RFSD-MIP and relevant synthesis approaches. Furthermore, this review emphasizes the application of dual/multi-emission RFSD-MIP sensors in detecting FSHFs, along with various intriguing strategies for achieving on-site sensing and multi-target detection. Finally, the review discusses pressing challenges in the practical fabrication and application of RFSD-MIP and explores future perspectives.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":439,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Analytical Chemistry","volume":"197 ","pages":"Article 118685"},"PeriodicalIF":12.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146185723","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jiangyue Zhang , Taojie Pan , Jiayu Zhang , Yang Gu , Zhanpeng Zhu , Xiaoyu Zhong , Jie Wang , Yuchen Li , Xinke Gao , Jingyi Wang , Jiayi Li , Yulu Lin , Li Wang , Yanfei Han , Kun Zhang , Ping Yu , Kun Yin , Xu Wang , Yajun Zhang , Peng Zhang
{"title":"Genetically encoded fluorescent neurotransmitter sensors: A new frontier in molecular diagnostics and real-time brain imaging","authors":"Jiangyue Zhang , Taojie Pan , Jiayu Zhang , Yang Gu , Zhanpeng Zhu , Xiaoyu Zhong , Jie Wang , Yuchen Li , Xinke Gao , Jingyi Wang , Jiayi Li , Yulu Lin , Li Wang , Yanfei Han , Kun Zhang , Ping Yu , Kun Yin , Xu Wang , Yajun Zhang , Peng Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.trac.2026.118730","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.trac.2026.118730","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Genetically encoded fluorescent sensors (GEFS) represent a transformative advance in molecular diagnostics and real-time neuroimaging. By coupling neurotransmitter recognition domains to fluorescent reporters, GEFS enable direct visualization of neurochemical signaling with millisecond temporal precision and subcellular spatial resolution. Recent innovations in periplasmic binding protein (PBP)- and G-protein-coupled receptor activation-based (GRAB) architectures have produced sensors with exceptional brightness, kinetics, and specificity for dopamine, serotonin, acetylcholine, glutamate, γ-aminobutyric acid, and other neuromodulators. Integration with electrophysiology, multiphoton and mesoscopic imaging, fiber photometry, and machine-learning analytics is bridging molecular signaling with circuit function in health and disease. Applications in Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, autism spectrum disorders, and addiction models highlight their utility as dynamic biomarkers of neurotransmission and therapeutic response. Emerging red-shifted and ratiometric sensors, non-viral delivery systems, and AI-assisted analytics are driving GEFS toward quantitative, clinically relevant neurochemical imaging and precision medicine.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":439,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Analytical Chemistry","volume":"197 ","pages":"Article 118730"},"PeriodicalIF":12.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146185955","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Anna Czyż , Olamide Akinbode , Magdalena Borowska, Katarzyna Pawlak
{"title":"Emergent analytical strategies and tools to track functional inorganic nanomaterials applied for sustainable agriculture","authors":"Anna Czyż , Olamide Akinbode , Magdalena Borowska, Katarzyna Pawlak","doi":"10.1016/j.trac.2026.118674","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.trac.2026.118674","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This review provides a comprehensive overview of methodologies for assessing the bioactivity and environmental impact of inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) in agriculture, emphasizing the need for standardized and robust analytical approaches. It examines NP interactions with complex matrices such as soil, water, and plants, and their behavior, transformation, and long-term effects. Applications of nanotechnology in agriculture are discussed, including the classification and functional roles of inorganic NPs and the differences between experimental models such as in vitro, hydroponic, and soil-based systems. Particular focus is placed on NP characterization using advanced analytical instrumentation, highlighting methodological advantages and critical parameters for accurate analysis of complex samples. The review also addresses the preparation of environmental models enabling the investigation of NP stability and transformation under realistic conditions and concludes by outlining methodological advances essential for producing reliable, comparable, and interpretable data.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":439,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Analytical Chemistry","volume":"197 ","pages":"Article 118674"},"PeriodicalIF":12.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146049040","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jiaxi Han, Zilin Fang, Yu Qi, Na Yang, Jianhua Liu, Weina He
{"title":"Chemical design of organelle-targeting molecular rotors for intracellular viscosity imaging","authors":"Jiaxi Han, Zilin Fang, Yu Qi, Na Yang, Jianhua Liu, Weina He","doi":"10.1016/j.trac.2026.118675","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.trac.2026.118675","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Organelle viscosity is a vital biomechanical parameter closely linked to diverse physiological and pathological processes. Molecular rotors that visualize viscosity <em>via</em> changes in fluorescence intensity or lifetime, offer a promising noninvasive approach for measuring organelle viscosity. This review systematically summarizes the structural classifications of molecular rotors, including BODIPY derivatives, D-A probes, A-D-A/D-A-D probes and cross-conjugated probes, with emphasis on their photophysical mechanisms and structure–property relationships. Furthermore, it details the design strategies for achieving organelle-specific targeting across key subcellular compartments, such as cell membrane, lysosome, nucleus, mitochondria, Golgi apparatus, endoplasmic reticulum, etc. Targeting approaches fall into three categories: incorporating organelle-binding ligands, tuning physicochemical properties for selective permeability, and exploiting environment-triggered activation. Finally, we discuss applications of organelle-targeting molecular rotors in disease diagnosis, intraoperative imaging, and mechanobiological studies. By mapping intracellular mechanical landscapes, these probes bridge molecular biology and cellular biomechanics, opening new avenues in both basic research and clinical diagnostics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":439,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Analytical Chemistry","volume":"197 ","pages":"Article 118675"},"PeriodicalIF":12.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146049042","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ke Jia , Duo Shen , Yanfang Zhao , Huihui Liu , Caiqiao Xiong , Xiangfeng Chen , Zongxiu Nie
{"title":"MALDI mass spectrometry in metabolic diagnostics: Advances in biofluid and spatial metabolic analysis","authors":"Ke Jia , Duo Shen , Yanfang Zhao , Huihui Liu , Caiqiao Xiong , Xiangfeng Chen , Zongxiu Nie","doi":"10.1016/j.trac.2026.118705","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.trac.2026.118705","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry (MS) has emerged as a powerful tool for metabolic profiling and disease diagnosis, particularly in biofluid analysis and spatially resolved tissue imaging. This review explores the use of MALDI-MS in biofluid analysis, focusing on biofluid selection, matrix choice, and the integration of machine learning (ML) for enhanced diagnostic capabilities. We also examine the application of MALDI mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) for metabolic profiling in oncology, including cancer diagnosis, classification, and prognosis. Additionally, we highlight the role of MALDI-MSI in non-oncological diseases, emphasizing its potential to identify metabolic alterations and disease biomarkers. Finally, we discuss recent advancements in MALDI techniques, which improve sensitivity, spatial resolution, and overall diagnostic utility. This review provides researchers with a comprehensive understanding of MALDI-MS in disease diagnosis, helping guide future studies in biofluid analysis and spatial metabolomics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":439,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Analytical Chemistry","volume":"197 ","pages":"Article 118705"},"PeriodicalIF":12.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146076711","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lihong Su , Luliang Wang , Lei Zhao , Yushen Liu , Chengke Wang , Chen Shao , Lu Liu , Daohong Zhang , Ibrahim A. Darwish
{"title":"Synergistic molecular imprinting in covalent organic frameworks boosts contaminant detection accuracy in complex matrices","authors":"Lihong Su , Luliang Wang , Lei Zhao , Yushen Liu , Chengke Wang , Chen Shao , Lu Liu , Daohong Zhang , Ibrahim A. Darwish","doi":"10.1016/j.trac.2026.118718","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.trac.2026.118718","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The pervasive contamination of food and environmental samples has raised serious public health concerns, urgently requiring the development of efficient and reliable detection methods. However, the complex sample matrices and ultra-low residue levels of target analytes severely compromise detection accuracy and sensitivity. Although molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have been widely employed to improve selectivity in sample preparation and sensing platforms, their limited binding sites and slow mass transfer remain challenges. Recently, the integration of MIPs with covalent organic frameworks (COFs) to form molecularly imprinted COFs (MICOFs) has emerged as a promising approach, leveraging the high surface area and ordered pores of COFs to enhance binding capacity, accelerate mass transfer kinetics, and improve recognition precision. This review summarizes recent advances in the synthesis strategies and analytical applications, highlighting how MICOFs mitigate matrix effects in analysis. Additionally, current challenges and prospects for the design and practical application of MICOFs are pinpointed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":439,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Analytical Chemistry","volume":"197 ","pages":"Article 118718"},"PeriodicalIF":12.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146185977","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yuqi Zhang , Nanke Chen , Miao Li , Junrong Li , Zhuoran Hu , Yuhan Gao , Xaju Cheng , Danyang Ji , Yao Sun , Haibin Shi
{"title":"Advanced optical probes assisted biomedical diagnostics","authors":"Yuqi Zhang , Nanke Chen , Miao Li , Junrong Li , Zhuoran Hu , Yuhan Gao , Xaju Cheng , Danyang Ji , Yao Sun , Haibin Shi","doi":"10.1016/j.trac.2026.118729","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.trac.2026.118729","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Optical imaging has emerged as an indispensable and powerful tool in biomedical diagnostics owing to its noninvasiveness, high sensitivity, superior spatiotemporal resolution, and real-time monitoring capability. It plays a vital role in elucidating the fundamental life processes, enabling early disease detection and therapeutic efficacy evaluation. This review highlights recent progress in Raman, fluorescence, and photoacoustic probes, systematically presenting their design strategies, working principles, and applications in biomedical diagnostics. Particular emphasis is placed on how different imaging modalities leverage the unique optical properties of these probes to improve imaging specificity, signal-to-noise ratio, penetration depth, and multimodal capabilities. We also discuss key translational challenges including biocompatibility, long-term safety and propose key directions for future development. Our goal is to offer design insights that will inspire next-generation optical probes and accelerate their integration into clinical practice.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":439,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Analytical Chemistry","volume":"197 ","pages":"Article 118729"},"PeriodicalIF":12.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146185679","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Next-generation bioimaging in reproductive One Health: Light sheet fluorescence microscopy and AI-driven embryo metabolism analysis","authors":"Elaheh Amirinezhadfard , Amirreza Niazi Tabar , Fabrizzio Horta , Wen-Chao Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.trac.2025.118644","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.trac.2025.118644","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bioimaging, along with embryology is being reshaped by next-generation imaging and analytical technologies. Light-sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM), as a leading next-generation technique, provides high-resolution, three-dimensional imaging of embryos over time, surpassing traditional methods such as confocal microscopy, widefield fluorescence microscopy, and Raman microscopy. LSFM has significantly diminished phototoxicity and enabled rapid imaging of entire embryo volumes, enhancing our ability to investigate early-to mid-embryonic development from fertilization through organogenesis in both human and animal models. In parallel with these imaging advancements, artificial intelligence (AI)-driven examination of embryo metabolism is transforming the evaluation of embryo quality and viability, as metabolic activity reflects the embryo's developmental competence and health status. This review analyzes the convergence of LSFM and AI-driven metabolic profiling as a transformative change in reproductive One Health. By integrating next-generation bioimaging into the One Health paradigm, we emphasize its potential to connect fundamental discoveries with cross-species applications in reproductive health.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":439,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Analytical Chemistry","volume":"196 ","pages":"Article 118644"},"PeriodicalIF":12.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145922594","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Recent advances in solid phase extraction involving nanomaterials for analytical purpose: A critical view","authors":"Pablo Montoro , Mohammed Zougagh , Ángel Ríos","doi":"10.1016/j.trac.2025.118643","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.trac.2025.118643","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>One of the main objectives for analytical chemists is the accurate and precise determination of target analytes in real samples. Although solid-phase extraction (SPE) has been a traditional and standard approach to achieve this purpose, conventional sorbents often suffer from limited selectivity, poor regeneration capacity, and a narrow sorption range, which restrict their applicability in challenging analytical scenarios. In this context, nanomaterials emerged as promising alternatives because of their tunable composition and structure, functionalizable surface, high specific surface area, and remarkable thermal, chemical, and physical stability. Relevant literature related to their use as sorbents in sample preparation protocols published in 2020–2025 are discussed. The period of last five years has been selected since a marked increase in the development of advanced two-dimensional nanosorbents, hybrid nanocomposites, and novel sustainable approaches has been noted, consolidating previously observed trends in this field. This review focuses on used nanomaterials, extraction methodology, and applications, including target analytes, and real samples. Additionally, an evaluation of key drawbacks derived from the use of nanomaterials such as aggregation tendency, cost-effectiveness for routine applications, and regulatory concerns is addressed. Although the nanomaterials have already demonstrated the potential to overcome limitations of conventional SPE sorbents, their definitive implementation will depend on addressing these unresolved challenges. This work is intended to provide an update on this topic and underscore future research directions that may enable practical implementation of nanomaterials as sorbents.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":439,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Analytical Chemistry","volume":"196 ","pages":"Article 118643"},"PeriodicalIF":12.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145922562","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Integrating smartphone optical sensors with paper-based analytical devices: a future standalone platform for onsite detection and analysis","authors":"Yanawut Manmana , Biprav Chetry , Sibasish Dutta , Pabitra Nath , Daniel Citterio","doi":"10.1016/j.trac.2025.118625","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.trac.2025.118625","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The beginning of this century has witnessed the emergence of many disruptive technologies changing the ways of sensing target analytes. Among these, smartphone-enabled analytical devices (SEADs) have gained attention as a promising technology, particularly in resource-limited settings. SEADs are recognized for being portable, cost-effective, user-friendly, and reliable platforms for detecting a wide range of analytes. In parallel, paper-based analytical devices (PADs) primarily relying on colorimetric or fluorescence signal transduction, have also attracted significant research interest across various applications. This review highlights the potential of integrating these two emerging analytical platforms, a combination that could revolutionize future onsite sensing. An overview of SEADs and PADs is provided, with focus on recent developments in optical detection. Advantages and limitations of integrating smartphones with PADs in different scenarios are presented. Additionally, recent applications of smartphone-coupled PADs are presented. Finally, key challenges associated with merging these two technologies are discussed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":439,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Analytical Chemistry","volume":"196 ","pages":"Article 118625"},"PeriodicalIF":12.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145973573","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}