Advances in riboswitch‐based biosensor as food samples detection tool

Abstract Food safety has always been a hot issue of social concern, and biosensing has been widely used in the field of food safety detection. Compared with traditional aptamer‐based biosensors, aptamer‐based riboswitch biosensing represents higher precision and programmability. A riboswitch is an elegant example of controlling gene expression, where the target is coupled to the aptamer domain, resulting in a conformational change in the downstream expression domain and determining the signal output. Riboswitch‐based biosensing can be extensively applied to the portable real‐time detection of food samples. The numerous key features of riboswitch‐based biosensing emphasize their sustainability, renewable, and testing, which promises to transform engineering applications in the field of food safety. This review covers recent developments in riboswitch‐based biosensors. The brief history, definition, and modular design (regulatory mode, reporter, and expression platform) of riboswitch‐based biosensors are explained for better insight into the design and construction. We summarize recent advances in various riboswitch‐based biosensors involving theophylline, malachite green, tetracycline, neomycin, fluoride, thrombin, naringenin, ciprofloxacin, and paromomycin, aiming to provide general guidance for the design of riboswitch‐based biosensors. Finally, the challenges and prospects are also summarized as a way forward stratagem and signs of progress.