Current Advances in Aptasensors for Pesticide Detection

Abstract

The increasing use of pesticides necessitates the development of innovative analytical methods to regulate environmental impacts and ensure food safety. Aptamer-based sensors hold great promise for pesticide detection owing to their superior selectivity, stability, repeatability, and regenerative capabilities. Integrated with nanomaterials, aptasensors have demonstrated enhanced sensitivity for detecting a broad range of pesticides. This study first introduces the aptamer binding mechanism and presents the fundamental concept and justification for selecting aptamer over other biorecognition molecules. It then provides a comprehensive review of recent advancements and applications of various types of aptasensors for targeted pesticide detection, including electrochemical, fluorescent, colorimetric, electrochemiluminescent, and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) aptasensors. Additionally, it offers a comparative analysis of different aptasensors by evaluating their strengths and limitations. Finally, this review discusses strategies, such as advanced Systemic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment (SELEX) technique, self-assembled monolayers (SAMs), and the use of antifouling agents to improve the aptamer’s selectivity, signal-to-noise ratio, and mitigate nonspecific adsorption challenges. These developments are essential for creating highly sensitive and selective aptasensors, facilitating their practical use in environmental monitoring and food safety.