Electrochemical Sensing Techniques for Antibiotic Detection
Summary
Electrochemical sensing has emerged as a versatile approach for the rapid and sensitive detection of antibiotics in clinical, environmental and food matrices. By converting redox reactions of target molecules at an electrode surface into measurable electrical signals, these techniques combine high sensitivity with straightforward instrumentation. Advances in electrode design—such as the incorporation of nanomaterials, conductive polymers and molecularly imprinted layers—have improved both the selectivity and the limit of detection, enabling trace‐level quantification of a broad spectrum of antibiotic compounds. Common measurement modes include cyclic voltammetry for mechanistic insight, differential pulse voltammetry for high‐resolution peak analysis and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy for surface‐interface characterisation. Tailored modifications—ranging from screen‐printed carbon platforms to biochar‐based composites—facilitate on‐site and point‐of‐care applications, minimise fouling effects and reduce sample preparation. These platforms are increasingly deployed to monitor antibiotic residues in wastewater, to verify pharmaceutical formulations and to assess drug levels in biological fluids, thereby addressing global concerns over antimicrobial resistance and environmental contamination.
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Electrochemical Sensing Techniques for Antibiotic Detection publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in electrochemical sensing techniques for antibiotic detection across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Electrochemical sensor: A device that converts chemical interactions at an electrode into an electrical signal proportional to analyte concentration.
Cyclic voltammetry (CV): A technique in which the electrode potential is swept cyclically to probe redox behaviour and reaction kinetics.
Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV): A pulsed potential method offering enhanced resolution and sensitivity by measuring current differences at defined increments.
Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS): A frequency‐domain technique that characterises electrode interfaces by measuring system impedance over a range of frequencies.
Molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP): A synthetic polymer matrix formed in the presence of a template molecule, creating specific recognition sites upon template removal.
Limit of detection (LOD): The lowest concentration of an analyte that can be reliably distinguished from background noise.
References
- Detection of Levofloxacin Using a Simple and Green Electrochemically Polymerized Glycine Layered Carbon Paste Electrode. Chemosensors (2023).
- Construction of a Molecularly Imprinted Sensor Modified with Tea Branch Biochar and Its Rapid Detection of Norfloxacin Residues in Animal-Derived Foods. Foods (2023).
- A Low-Cost Electrochemical Method for the Determination of Sulfadiazine in Aquaculture Wastewater. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2022).
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