Recent Advances in Photoelectrochemical Biosensors Based on Novel Photoactive Materials and Detection Strategy for Agricultural Toxin: A Review

Toxins produced by living organisms pose substantial threats to the health of crops, humans, animals, and other organisms in agricultural environments. It is of great significance to develop rapid, sensitive and on-site detection methods for these toxins are critically needed to safeguard agricultural production and human health. Photoelectrochemical (PEC) biosensors have recently emerged as promising platforms for the toxin analysis due to its unique advantages, including low background signal, cost-effectiveness, and suitability for miniaturization. The heart of PEC biosensors are photoactive materials, which convert biochemical reactions into measurable electrical signals upon light irradiation. Particularly, the performance of PEC biosensors in analytical applications is also largely determined by specific recognition units. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in PEC biosensors specifically designed for detecting various agricultural toxins. The prospects for further development in this field are also discussed.