Advances in polymer-based detection of environmental ibuprofen in wastewater

Globally, ibuprofen is the third most consumed drug and its presence in the environment is a concern because little is known about its adverse effects on humans and aquatic life. Environmentalists have made monitoring and the detection of ibuprofen in biological and environmental matrices a priority. For the detection and monitoring of ibuprofen, sensors and biosensors have provided rapid analysis time, sensitivity, high-throughput screening, and real-time analysis. Researchers are increasingly seeking eco-friendly technology, and this has led to an interest in developing biodegradable, bioavailable, and non-toxic sensors, or biosensors. The integration of polymers into sensor systems has proven to significantly improve sensitivity, selectivity, and stability and minimize sample preparation using bioavailable and biodegradable polymers. This review provides a general overview of perspectives and trends of polymer-based sensors and biosensors for the detection of ibuprofen compared to non-polymer-based sensors.