The development of a highly sensitive electrochemical method for trace determination of antibiotic compounds based on magnetic polymeric nanocomposites in environmental systems

Due to the increased use of antibiotics, their presence in the environment and in natural systems has increased tremendously. Antibiotic consumption in livestock alone reached 63,151 tonnes in 2010 and is expected to increase to approximately 105,463 tonnes by 2030. Importantly, up to 80% of antibiotics are excreted un-metabolized into environmental systems after human consumption. These antibiotic emissions mostly enter the environment through municipal wastewater, manure, and sewage sludge. Another source of large antibiotic emissions is the manufacture and subsequent disposal of unused antibiotics. In addition, the release of antibiotics into the environment is of great concern as it can also contribute to the development and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which is known to be a problem of global concern and one of the greatest emerging threats to human health. AMR causes morbidity, healthcare costs, and lost productivity. Concentrations of some antibiotics found in environmental systems adversely affect wildlife and consequently human health, especially because they can accumulate and act at low concentrations (in μg/L or ng/L). One support to address this problem is the development of an analytical method that is sufficiently sensitive for determination of antibiotics in complex environmental samples. The latter pose a major analytical challenge. However, conventional methods are time consuming, expensive and often require complex sample pre-treatment. Therefore, highly accurate, selective and sensitive detection methods for sensing and determination of antibiotics in environmental samples are urgently needed to contribute to environmental and human safety. In this context, the electrochemical sensors using the presented innovative nanomaterials are considered as a novel approach for electrochemical sensor design. Nanomaterials based electrochemical sensors are therefore promising future platforms for antibiotic residue determination and will be developed in the proposed project. The main objective of this project is to prepare novel hybrid nanocomposites based on polysaccharides with target functional group together with core-shell MNPs@SiO2 nanoparticles with controlled physicochemical properties, which will serve as modified nanocomposite material for further electrochemical electrode modification. Subsequently, the analytical performance of the constructed electrode will be evaluated with basic validation parameters for sensory application of selected (most problematic) antibiotics (e.g. tetracyclines, penicillins) in complex environmental systems. It is expected that the constructed electrochemical sensor based on nanomaterials will have lower detection limit, selectivity, higher sensitivity and wider linear range compared to other state-of-the-art electrochemical sensors. In the proposed project, the nanomaterials and processing parameters will be investigated and optimised. The qualitative and quantitative correlations between the properties of the nanomaterials and the processing parameters of these nanomaterials will be studied in detail at the fundamental research level to obtain an optimal analytical sensor platform. The developed electrochemical sensor with the advanced nanotechnology approach will enable a highly sensitive electrochemical method for the detection of antibiotics at trace levels not only in model solutions but also in more complex matrices such as real environmental samples. Finally, the knowledge gained in this fundamental project will help to design potential commercial electrochemical sensors for antibiotic detection. In addition, various segments such as environmental protection, nanotechnology and electroanalytical chemistry will be strengthened and enriched. The project will significantly impact important disciplines in the field of environmental protection with the development of advanced analytical methods that enable the traceability of antibiotics.