Electrochemical Sensing Techniques for Environmental and Pharmaceutical Applications
Summary
Electrochemical sensing has emerged as a pivotal approach for the detection and quantification of analytes in environmental and pharmaceutical settings. By exploiting redox reactions at electrode interfaces, techniques such as voltammetry, potentiometry and amperometry deliver high sensitivity and rapid response, often achieving trace-level detection of metal ions, organic pollutants and active pharmaceutical ingredients. Advances in electrode materials—including nanostructured carbon, conducting polymers and biomolecular recognisers—have enhanced selectivity and extended operational stability in complex matrices. Screen-printed and flexible electrode formats facilitate portable, in situ monitoring, while microelectrode arrays and microfluidic integration support multiplexed analyses. Applications range from mapping heavy metal contamination and assessing water quality to monitoring drug concentrations for regulatory compliance and therapeutic drug monitoring. These methods offer key advantages over traditional analytical techniques: simplified sample preparation, lower costs, real-time data acquisition and potential for miniaturisation into point-of-care devices. Ongoing research focuses on optimising surface functionalisation, developing robust ion-selective membranes and integrating sensors with wireless networks for remote environmental surveillance and clinical diagnostics.
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Electrochemical Sensing Techniques for Environmental and Pharmaceutical Applications publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in electrochemical sensing techniques for environmental and pharmaceutical applications across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Voltammetry: Electrochemical technique measuring current as a function of applied potential to quantify redox-active species.
Potentiometry: Method that monitors voltage between a working and reference electrode at zero current to determine ion concentrations.
Amperometry: Technique recording current at a fixed potential to detect analytes continuously over time.
Screen-printed electrode: Disposable electrode produced by printing conductive inks onto substrates for low-cost, portable sensing.
Ionophore: Molecule embedded in a membrane that selectively binds and transports specific ions for potentiometric detection.
Microelectromechanical system (MEMS): Miniaturised device integrating mechanical and electrical components, often used to create compact sensor platforms.
References
- A Convenient Strategy for the Voltammetric Direct Determination of Ce(III) in Environmental Waters Using a Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Modified Screen-Printed Carbon Electrode. Molecules (2024).
- A Novel Coated Pencil-Shaped Graphite Electrode for Potentiometric Determination of Metoclopramide-HCl in Pure and Pharmaceutical Commercial Products. Tamjeed Journal of Healthcare Engineering and Science Technology (2023).
- Determination of Drugs in Clinical Trials: Current Status and Outlook. Sensors (2022).
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