Peptide screening, design, and application for detecting small-molecule contaminants in food

Small-molecule contaminants (SMCs), including pesticides, veterinary drugs, mycotoxins, and heavy metals, threaten food safety and human health. Traditional detection methods such as chromatography and immunoassays are accurate but costly, time-consuming, and less practical for rapid screening. Peptides have emerged as promising alternatives because of their small size, modifiability, high specificity, and compatibility with sensor platforms. This review integrates developments in traditional peptide screening, computational design, and analytical applications for detecting SMCs in food. It critically evaluates the strengths and limitations of current methods while exploring how artificial intelligence and nanomaterial-based strategies enhance peptide performance. By bridging peptide engineering and analytical chemistry, this review provides practical insights for developing rapid, cost-effective, and sensitive detection tools. It also identifies knowledge gaps and future opportunities, guiding both experienced researchers and newcomers to advance peptide-based assays toward real-world applications in food safety and environmental monitoring.