Nanomaterial-based electrochemical sensors for arsenic - A review

Biosens Bioelectron. 2017 Sep 15:95:106-116. doi: 10.1016/j.bios.2017.04.013. Epub 2017 Apr 13.

Abstract

The existence of arsenic in the environment poses severe global health threats. Considering its toxicity, the sensing of arsenic is extremely important. Due to the complexity of environmental and biological samples, many of the available detection methods for arsenic have serious limitations on selectivity and sensitivity. To improve sensitivity and selectivity and to circumvent interferences, different electrode systems have been developed based on surface modification with nanomaterials including carbonaceous nanomaterials, metallic nanoparticles (MNPs), metal nanotubes (MNTs), and even enzymes. Despite the progress made in electrochemical sensing of arsenic, some issues still need to be addressed to realize cost effective, portable, and flow-injection type sensor systems. The present review provides an in-depth evaluation of the nanoparticle-modified electrode (NME) based methods for the electrochemical sensing of arsenic. NME based sensing systems are projected to become an important option for monitoring hazardous pollutants in both environmental and biological media.

Keywords: Au modified electrode; Glassy carbon electrode; Inorganic arsenic; Limit of detection; NPs modified electrodes.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Arsenic / isolation & purification*
  • Arsenic / toxicity
  • Biosensing Techniques*
  • Electrochemical Techniques*
  • Gold / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry
  • Nanostructures / chemistry
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / isolation & purification*
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / toxicity

Substances

  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • Gold
  • Arsenic