**5. Conclusions and Future Directions**

Development of a suitable biosensor or bioassay for mycotoxin analysis as alternative approaches to conventional sophisticated techniques such as chromatography-based methods is of great importance in the field of biosensing research. Among different sensing strategies, colorimetric approaches are very popular, simple, and convenient and present great value for on-site detection. Colorimetric methods are categorized based on type of colored label and the medium in which the reaction develops (solution-based and solid substrate-based). ELISA and LFA are considered as the most common solution-based

and solid-substrate-based colorimetric detection methods due to their unique features. In addition to a wide variety of researches in these areas, multiple companies worldwide are developing and producing detection kits relying on these two techniques. The products from different suppliers can be different in terms of sensitivity, selectivity, the type of matrix used, detection time, and number of detectable mycotoxins.

Notwithstanding the great success and advance in this field, hand-held digital biosensors and smartphone-based quantitative detection are desired for the future market, aiming for an intuitive user experience. Furthermore, because of the very competitive market for mycotoxin test kits, the future market welcomes products capable of performing multiplex analysis and high portability.

It is also possible that new recognition elements, such as aptamer and molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP), will replace the antibody commercially available tests for a more convenient future technology. Despite their merits, aptasensing assays remain relatively immature for industrial monitoring. This is probably due to the short history of reproducible aptasensors in real sample analysis and the lack of broad dissemination of results on the market saturated with immune kits. Nevertheless, owing to the advantages and prospects offered by the mass production of specific aptamers, its contribution to the colorimetric sensors market in food safety is expected to evolve rapidly and shape the future market.

**Funding:** This research received no external funding.

**Acknowledgments:** This study was supported by Shiraz University and University of Perpignan.

**Conflicts of Interest:** The authors declare no conflict of interest.
