Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 25, 2025

Nanomechanics of Drug-target Interactions and Antibacterial Resistance Detection
Published on: October 25, 2013
New approaches in antibiotics detection: The use of square wave voltammetry
Júlia Duarte Megale1, Djenaine De Souza1
1Laboratory of Electroanalytical Applied to Biotechnology and Food Engineering (LEABE), Chemistry Institute, Uberlândia Federal University, Major Jerônimo street, 566, Patos de Minas, MG 38700-002, Brazil.
Abstract:
Antibiotics belongs to a class of pharmaceutical compounds widely used due to their effectiveness against bacterial infections. However, if consumed or inappropriately disposed of in the environment can results in environmental and public health problems, because they are considered emerging contaminants and their residues represent damage, whether in the long or short term, to different terrestrial ecosystems, in addition to bringing potential risks to agricultural sectors, such as livestock and fish farming. For this, the development of analytical methods for low-concentration detection and identification of antibiotics in natural waters, wastewaters, soil, foods, and biological fluids is necessary. This review shows the applicability of square wave voltammetry for the analytical determination of antibiotics from different chemical classes and covers a variety of samples and working electrodes that are used as voltammetric sensors. The review involved the analysis of scientific publications from the Science Direct® and Scopus® databases, with scientific manuscripts covering the period between January 2012 and May 2023. Various manuscripts were discussed indicating the applicability of square wave voltammetry in antibiotics detection in urine, blood, natural waters, milk, among other complex samples.
Related Concept Videos
Voltammetric Techniques: Pulse Voltammetry
Voltammetry: Overview
A voltammetric cell uses three electrodes: a working electrode, a reference electrode, and an auxiliary electrode. The redox reactions occur in the working...
Voltammetric Techniques: Cyclic Voltammetry
Voltammetry: Stripping Methods
Anodic Stripping Voltammetry (ASV)
ASV is used to determine metals and metalloids at trace levels. It involves two steps: deposition and stripping. First, a negative potential is applied to the...
Voltammetric Techniques: Linear-Scan (E vs Time)
Voltammograms: Overview
Shapes of Voltammograms

