A perspective on non-enzymatic electrochemical nanosensors for direct detection of pesticides

This paper provides an insight on the recent advances towards development of nanomaterials based non-enzymatic electrochemical sensors for the detection of pesticides. The non-enzymatic nanosensors have been emerged as an effective tool to replace the conventional analytical methodologies towards detection of pesticides. The nanosensors offer advantages such as low cost per assay, ease in manipulation, large scale production and stability over an extended period of time. The integration of nanomaterials including carbon nanotubes, metal oxide nanoparticles and quantum dots has greatly enhanced the performance of pesticides electrochemical sensors. With the advent of nanotechnology, advancement has been made towards synthesis of analyte specific nanomaterials for subsequent integration in the construct of highly specific, selective and cost effective electrochemical sensors, to replace the need of bioreceptor elements. Keeping in view the importance of this novel construct, the present review is focused to provide a precise description of recent progress in the field of non-enzymatic electrochemical nanosensors, with a particular focus for the analysis of pesticides.