Chitosan Nanocomposites-Based Electrochemical Sensors: A Review

Abstract

Chitosan nanocomposites represent a promising class of materials formed by combining chitosan with various nanomaterials. This innovative approach leverages the advantageous properties of both chitosan—a biopolymer known for its biocompatibility, natural abundance, high film-formability, and tunable functionality—and nanomaterials, which exhibit enhanced properties such as high surface area, electrical conductivity, and catalytic activity. While chitosan alone is limited by its low electrical conductivity and mechanical strength, its integration with nanomaterials addresses these shortcomings, enhancing its utility in electrochemical sensing applications. This review comprehensively summarizes recent advancements in chitosan-based nanocomposites, mainly focusing on their application in electrochemical sensors. It discusses the various nanocomposites combined with metals, metal oxides, carbon-based materials, and other nanostructures. The review highlights the synthesis methods, performance metrics, and potential applications of these sensors across fields such as environmental monitoring, food safety, medical diagnostics, and pharmaceuticals. Emphasis is placed on the advancements over the past five years, with a discussion on the significant impact these sensors have had in detecting critical analytes like heavy metals, neurotransmitters, glucose, and reactive oxygen species.