Detection of antibiotics in food: New achievements in the development of biosensors

Antibiotics are extensively employed for preventive and curative purposes in animals. Their accumulation in human body through food chain may induce serious health hazards. Therefore, the development of sensitive and specific methods for simple and rapid screening of antibiotics in animal-derived foods is highly desirable. Currently, the most commonly used detection methods are based on chromatographic techniques including HPLC and LC-MS/MS and immunological methods such as enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA). Although these methods are sensitive enough, they are time consuming and require skilled personnel and expensive equipment. Biosensors are emerging analytical tools for simple, on-site, low cost, specific and sensitive detection of antibiotics. The present review highlights new achievements in the development of biosensors relying on different types of nanomaterials and biorecognition elements that have been commonly used in the fabrication of these biosensors. Present challenges and future perspectives are discussed well.