Electrochemical biosensors for the quantification of streptomycin in food systems: an overview

ABSTRACT

Streptomycin (STR) is a prominent example of aminoglycoside antibiotics. It is extensively used in various agricultural sectors against bacterial infections and to control pests. STR kills bacteria by reducing the fidelity of protein synthesis. However, its uncontrolled and incorrect application can result in the appearance of unwanted residues of STR in animal-derived foodstuffs (milk, meat and honey) that can lead to severe health issues in humans like developing bacterial resistance, nephrotoxicity, ototoxicity, and allergic reactions. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), Liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) are still the most widely applied techniques to detect the presence of antibiotics residues due to their high sensitivity. However, researchers are putting continuous efforts into developing suitable alternatives because lab-based methods are laborious and need trained personnel and costly equipment. Among various analytical devices, electrochemical biosensors (ECBs) are emerging as promising devices for fast, specific, sensitive, and on-site detection of STR. The present review article includes the main principles and the recent trends in the ECBs developed for STR. This review highlights the current materials applied for the biosensing, miniaturisation, and construction of portable devices to be available on-site.

KEYWORDS:

• STR residues
• food safety
• electrochemical biosensors
• nanomaterials

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).