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The agricultural and food sectors are currently focused on developing and implementing control technologies but have not been able to detect postharvest fungi and food-borne bacteria in a fast and reliable manner; thus, necessary measures must be taken as soon as possible. To facilitate this process, a device such as a biosensor could be a potential alternative for the timely detection of various postharvest pathogenic microorganisms. Biosensors are composed of a recognition element, a transductor, a compartment for data analysis, and an indicator to visualize the signal. The biological recognition element can include enzymes and aptamers. To date, a great number of nanomaterials have been produced with the potential to be transducing elements due to their enhanced electrical conductivity, thermal, and optical properties. These include nanocarbons, nanometals, nanomagnetics, and nanosemiconductors. Furthermore, new approaches to lessen the use of toxic materials during the synthesis of nanoparticles have been considered, including biological resources such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and plants. However, the portable device must still overcome several hurdles, such as sample preparation, energy needs, and training. • Biosensor detects postharvest fungi and food-borne bacteria in a fast manner. • The sensitivity of a biosensor is increased with the use of nanomaterials. • Nanomaterials are structures with a nominal diameter smaller than 100 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanotechnology has gained much attention over the last decades, as it offers unique opportunities for the advancement of the next generation of sensing tools. Point-of-care (POC) devices for the selective detection of biomolecules using engineered nanoparticles have become a main research thrust in the diagnostic field. This review presents an overview on how the POC-associated nanotechnology, currently applied for the identification of nucleic acids, proteins and antibodies, might be further exploited for the detection of infectious pathogens: although still premature, future integrations of nanoparticles with biological markers that target specific microorganisms will enable timely therapeutic intervention against life-threatening infectious diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]