Gold Nanozyme-Catalyzed SERS Detection of Food Contaminants

Gold nanostructure-derived nanozymes have attracted significant attention in food safety due to their enzyme-mimicking abilities, versatile surface characteristics, and localized surface plasmon resonance. Their dual function as both catalytic substrates and enhancers for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) enables substantial Raman signal amplification, providing an ultrasensitive strategy for detecting food contaminants. However, a systematic evaluation of Au nanozyme catalytic behavior in SERS sensing remains lacking. This review summarizes recent advances in Au nanozyme-catalyzed SERS biosensing, linking catalytic mechanisms with sensing performance. Peroxidase- and oxidase-like activities of Au nanozymes, as well as the selection and performance of Raman reporters, are discussed. Particular emphasis is placed on applications for detecting heavy metals, mycotoxins, allergens, and pathogenic bacteria in complex food matrices. Current challenges and future perspectives are outlined to promote the development of reliable, cost-effective, and sensitive biosensing platforms for food safety.