Recent Advances in Electrochemical Sensors and Biosensors for Detecting Bisphenol A

Abstract

In recent years, several studies have focused on environmental pollutants. Bisphenol A (BPA) is one prominent industrial raw material, and its extensive utilization and release into the environment constitute an environmental hazard. BPA is considered as to be an endocrine disruptor which mimics hormones, and has a direct relationship to the development and growth of animal and human reproductive systems. Moreover, intensive exposure to the compound is related to prostate and breast cancer, infertility, obesity, and diabetes. Hence, accurate and reliable determination techniques are crucial for preventing human exposure to BPA. Experts in the field have published general electrochemical procedures for detecting BPA. The present timely review critically evaluates diverse chemically modified electrodes using various substances that have been reported in numerous studies in the recent decade for use in electrochemical sensors and biosensors to detect BPA. Additionally, the essential contributions of these substances for the design of electrochemical sensors are presented. It has been predicted that chemically modified electrode-based sensing systems will be possible options for the monitoring of detrimental pollutants.

Keywords: biosensor; bisphenol A; electrochemical sensor; electrodes.

Figure 1

Chemical structure of bisphenol A (BPA).

Figure 2

Electrooxidation mechanism of BPA.

Figure 3

The schematic diagram of preparation of the multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)/polythiophene (PTh)/Pt electrochemical sensor. Reprinted with permission from [55].

Figure 4

Schematic illustration of the designed strategy for the determination of BPA. The tunnel gates remain open in the absence of BPA (A). Addition of BPA (lower concentration) results in the closing of some of the gates due to conformational aptamer changes (B). An increase of BPA further increases the number of closed gates (C). At higher concentrations almost all the gates are closed (D). Reprinted with permission from [67].