Applications in analytical chemistry using the attractive properties of non-ionic fluorosurfactants

Non-ionic fluorosurfactants are commercially available with a polyoxyethylene chain in their hydrophilic part and a fluorocarbon chain at the hydrophobic part. In comparison to their corresponding hydrocarbon analogues, non-ionic fluorosurfactants possess several excellent and unique properties (e.g., excellent biocompatibility, high chemical stability, and strong binding capacity towards gold). These properties make non-ionic fluorosurfactants attractive candidates for various analytical applications. This review article covers the current state of the art of using the attractive properties of non-ionic fluorosurfactants, and their recent analytical developments in a variety of samples. This article focuses on the applications of non-ionic fluorosurfactant-functionalized electrodes and gold nanoparticles in electrochemical, colorimetric, electrochemiluminescence and chemiluminescence assays. We identify the advantages and the limitations of non-ionic fluorosurfactants on sensing platforms. Furthermore, we discuss some critical challenges in this field and possible solutions to overcome these challenges.