Nanomaterials based surface plasmon resonance signal enhancement for detection of environmental pollutions

Due to the nearby relationship between human health, socioeconomic development and environmental pollution, the detection and identification of environmental pollutants need more attention. Therefore, the development of suitable analytical devices that are sensitive, specific, precise, quick, and easy-to-use are required to resolve the increased request for legislative action on environmental pollution control and early detection of rising pollutants. Currently, the development of biosensing instruments attracted important attention because of their high selectivity, sensitivity, simplicity, reliability, low-cost and real-time response. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor as an example of portable, rapid, and smart biosensing devices widely used for qualitative and quantitative detection of multiplexed pollutant in real-time. Thus, SPR principles, assay formats, surface modification methods and signal enhancement are summarized in this review. Moreover, applications of SPR in the detection of pesticide, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), heavy metals and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) over the past decade is discussed.