Luminescent sensors for residual antibiotics detection in food: Recent advances and perspectives

Antibiotics that possess the capability to inhibit or eradicate bacteria have been widely employed in the fields of agriculture and veterinary medicine over the years. However, the excessive use of antibiotics has led to significant challenges regarding antibiotic pollution in food. Given the established risks of antibiotic contamination and the need for regulatory compliance, various detection techniques have emerged, including chromatography, immunoassays, microbiological assays, and microfluidic analysis. Among these methods, luminescent analysis using sensors has attracted significant attention due to its advantages of high sensitivity, selectivity, speed, simplicity, and cost-effectiveness. This review aims to discuss the recent advancements, advantages, and limitations of luminescent sensors for detecting antibiotics in food. Furthermore, it seeks to offer valuable insights for future research directions in this field.