Electrochemical Biosensors for Rapid Detection of Environmental Pollutants

Abstract

A pressing requirement for quick, sensitive, and inexpensive monitoring instruments has arisen in response to the increasing environmental pollution caused by heavy metals, insecticides, industrial chemicals, and unknown pollutants. Even though they are quite accurate, traditional analytical methods like mass spectrometry and chromatography are typically time-consuming, costly, and not practical for use in real-world settings. One viable alternative is the rise of electrochemical biosensors, which are versatile, easy to transport, have low detection limits, and can monitor a wide range of contaminants in real time. scientific progress in the field of electrochemical biosensing for environmental uses, particularly in the area of transducer platforms integrated with biomolecular recognition elements such as antibodies, enzymes, nucleic acids, and entire cells. By expanding surface area, facilitating electron transmission, and enabling multi-analyte detection, innovations in nanomaterials including graphene, metal nanoparticles, conductive polymers, and carbon nanotubes have greatly improved sensor performance. Biosensors are being developed to be field-ready for use in pollution management, with new designs that take advantage of microfluidics, paper-based substrates, and wireless data transmission. This will allow for faster decision-making. proved that these platforms are capable to detecting heavy metals (such as lead, mercury, and cadmium), pesticides (such as organophosphates and carbamates), and pharmaceutical residues at trace levels. Stability, repeatability, fouling resistance, and commercialization on a broad scale are still areas that need improvement, despite recent advancements.