Electrochemical Sensors for Chloramphenicol: Advances in Food Safety and Environmental Monitoring

Excessive use of antibiotics can lead to antibiotic resistance, posing a significant threat to human health and the environment. Chloramphenicol (CAP), once widely used, has been banned in many regions for over 20 years due to its toxicity. Detecting CAP residues in food products is crucial for regulating safe use and preventing unnecessary antibiotic exposure. Electrochemical sensors are low-cost, sensitive, and easily detect CAP. This paper reviews recent research on electrochemical sensors for CAP detection, with a focus on the materials and fabrication techniques employed. The sensors are evaluated based on key performance parameters, including limit of detection, sensitivity, linear range, selectivity, and the ability to perform simultaneous detection. Specifically, we highlight the use of metal and carbon-based electrode modifications, including gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), nickel–cobalt (Ni-Co) hollow nano boxes, platinum–palladium (Pt-Pd), graphene (Gr), and covalent organic frameworks (COFs), as well as molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) such as polyaniline (PANI) and poly(o-phenylenediamine) (P(o-PD)). The mechanisms by which these modifications enhance CAP detection are discussed, including improved conductivity, increased surface-to-volume ratio, and enhanced binding site availability. The reviewed sensors demonstrated promising results, with some exhibiting high selectivity and sensitivity, and the effective detection of CAP in complex sample matrices. This review aims to support the development of next-generation sensors for antibiotic monitoring and contribute to global efforts to combat antibiotic resistance.