Nanomaterial-modified electrochemical aptasensor for tetracycline detection: A review

Excessive residues of tetracyclines in the livestock, food products and environment can accumulate in the human body through the food chain, unavoidably posing threat to human health. Therefore, it is essential to establish detection methods with high specificity, stability, and sensitivity. Among the numerous detecting techniques, electrochemical sensors with aptamer working as biorecognition elements have been increasingly applied to monitor tetracycline. Notably, the synergy of a wide range of nanomaterials with aptamers-based sensors could improve the charge transfer efficiency and signal sensitivity. In this review, the advantages of aptamer-based recognition method are discussed and the measuring process of electrochemical detection are introduced. Then, advances in electrochemical aptasensor used for detecting tetracycline are summarized with emphasis on the role of nanomaterials functioning as transducing media, such as carbon-based nanomaterials, gold-based nanomaterial and electrically conductive polymer. At the end, we also discuss the current challenges and emerging trends in this field, shedding light on the prospects for developing new aptasensor for tetracycline detection.