Recent progress on multiplexed detection strategies of heavy metals with emphasis on quantum dots

The rapid industrialization and urbanization of recent decades have intensified the global challenge of heavy metal pollution, necessitating the development of advanced sensing technologies for efficient detection and monitoring. Multiplexed detection, seeking either the simultaneous assessment of multiple analytes in the same experiment or the multi-detection of a single analyte in a complex sample matrix replete of interfering species, has gained, in recent years, a noteworthy interest amidst the analytical community. Evolving from early conventional techniques, multiplexed detection has been able, to deliver reliable and efficient analysis in fields as different as clinical, pharmaceutical, food and environmental analysis. The research on nanomaterials, in particular on photoluminescent quantum dots (QDs), has paved the way for the implementation of innovative and flexible multiplexed assays since their remarkable optical properties and tailored reactivity could be arranged in many configurations, combining different fluorophores and molecular recognition elements and providing the means for the establishment of definite reaction pathways and detection methods. From this particular study it concludes that, the development of QDs -based multiplexed detection techniques, examine the distinct roles they could play at the sensing platform, either alone or combined with other materials, and discuss the emerging developments and trends of QDs based nanosensors for the real-time detection of heavy metal ions. A quest of recent advances, actual issues, and potential futures of QDs-based nanosensors for heavy metals monitoring are provided in this study.