Miniaturized sample preparation and rapid portable detection of toxins and harmful substances in food: Emerging techniques and future perspectives

Food analysis has been widely conducted to evaluate various aspects of food composition, with many studies specifically targeting toxins and harmful compounds in these matrices that may pose risks to human health. To overcome the intrinsic complexity of food matrices and ensure reliable qualitative and quantitative determinations, miniaturized solid- and liquid-phase extraction methods have been employed for analyte preconcentration and sample cleanup, enabling their effective integration into analytical systems. These approaches are particularly notable for their alignment with green analytical chemistry principles and for the continuous evolution of devices and materials that enhance their performance and applicability. Furthermore, portable and in situ devices have been increasingly introduced in analytical applications for food assessment. These systems enable rapid, low-cost, and versatile analyses through on-site monitoring, thereby reducing or even eliminating the need for extensive consumables typically required in conventional workflows, such as sampling, storage, and sample handling. The literature still lacks comprehensive reviews that explore both miniaturized extraction methods and portable analytical devices for food assessment, particularly in the context of toxins and harmful compounds. Therefore, this study aims to bridge these topics by providing both theoretical insights and practical applications of these strategies in food analysis. Moreover, current trends and future perspectives are discussed to highlight ongoing developments in the field. We aim to encourage readers to explore the integration of miniaturized extraction techniques with portable devices, thereby bringing new advances in this important area of analytical science.