Recent advances in biosensors for the detection of estrogens in the environment and food

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have become increasingly prevalent in environment samples across the world, posing a serious threat to human health. In particular, estrogenic EDCs have received considerable public attention due to the ways in which they interfere with the normal endocrine functions of humans and animals. In recent years, biosensors for detecting estrogenic EDCs have made considerable progress. This review summarizes recent developments in biosensors for the detection of estrogens in the environment and food, including molecule-based biosensors, cell-based biosensors, and model organism-based biosensors. In particular, this review considered works published in 2017–2019 that focused on methods for the detection of estrogens and the use of nanomaterials for biosensors development. In this work, the advantages and limitations of various types of biosensors were compared, and projections for the future development of biosensors for monitoring estrogens in the environment and food were discussed. •This review focuses on the recent developments in biosensors for the detection of estrogens in the environment and food.•This review mainly considered works published in 2017–2019.•In this work, the advantages and limitations of various types of biosensors were compared and discussed.•The projections for the future development of biosensors for monitoring estrogens in the environment and food were discussed.