Bio(inspired) strategies for the electro-sensing of β-lactam antibiotics

The dire previsions of the WHO on the so-called “post-antibiotic era” and the continuous and global rise of anti-microbial resistance, spurs our research community to find better ways to fight these threats. In light of this severe threat to human health many attempts have been made to develop efficient methods to detect antibiotic residues in different streams. The use of electrochemistry seems an inviting approach for on-site and fast monitoring. In this critical review, recent developments in the field of (bio) electro-sensing of β-lactam antibiotics will be presented, with a focus on aptamers and molecularly imprinted polymers, the two main promises of a new generation of biosensors, yet to be fulfilled.