Advances in molecularly imprinted polymers-based electrochemical sensors for the detection of gonadal steroid hormones

The potential risks to human health posed by the overuse of gonadal steroid hormones (GSH), make it essential to develop a sensitive method for monitoring their levels. Recently, molecularly imprinted electrochemical sensors (MIECS) have been applied in the detection of GSH due to their advantageous biomimetic selectivity, low cost, and ability to withstand complex environments. This review provides a brief analysis of the sources, structure, and global distribution of GSH. We summarized the synthesizing method of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) and the principles of electrochemical analysis. Furthermore, this review discusses the recent research progress in MIECS-based detection of GSH. And the challenges and prospects of using MIECS for GSH analysis are also discussed. This paper gives theoretical guidance for the design of MIECS for GSH detection.