Rapid Detection of Antibiotics in Drinking Water Using Printed Sensors

Antimicrobial resistance is a global health threat. Antibiotic amoxicillin through human activities introduces various pollutants into our water, food, and environment, posing an increasing risk to human health. There is a pressing need for rapid and efficient monitoring of pollutant levels in the environment. This work presents an amoxicillin sensor using a flexible printed electrode, modified with polyaniline-silver bromide (PANI-AgBr) conjugate hybrid. The synergistic effects of nanocomposites result in stronger intramolecular bonds and improved protonic activity. Practical implementation of device monitored the amoxicillin onsite lab created environment. The sensor exhibits a broad detection range (1 ppm to 1 ppb) and demonstrates defendable selectivity, stability, and repeatability (approximately 91%), making it effective for real-time detection. Sensor chip exhibits lower limit of detection 0.410 nM of 0.357 μM–0.410 nM range and improved sensitivity (∼ 1800 μA/μM cm2 to ∼ 92 μA/nM cm2) under amperometry signals. The differential pulse voltammetry exhibits detection limit and sensitivity resemble 0.195 μM and ∼160 μA/μM cm2, respectively, at 10–50 μM. The sensor has analyzed real water samples and investigated reliability, which can be further implemented in a wearable antibiotic diagnostic system.