Fluorescence-Based Methods for the Determination of Selected β-Lactam Antibiotics (Amoxicillin, Cefixime, and Cephalexin): A Review

Authors

• Kardos Musheer Khorsheed, Fuel and Energy Techniques Engineering, College of Oil and Gas Techniques Engineering, Northern Technical University, Kirkuk 36001, IraqFollow
• Tara Fuad Tahir, Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Health, Koya University, Koya 44023, Kurdistan Region., Iraq
• Ahmad F. Hama Sdiq, Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Health Sciences, Lebanese French University, 44001 Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

How to Cite This Article

Khorsheed, Kardos Musheer; Tahir, Tara Fuad; and Hama Sdiq, Ahmad F. (2026) "Fluorescence-Based Methods for the Determination of Selected β-Lactam Antibiotics (Amoxicillin, Cefixime, and Cephalexin): A Review," Polytechnic Journal: Vol. 16: Iss. 2, Article 1.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59341/2707-7799.1879

Document Type

Review

Abstract

β-Lactam antibiotics constitute one of the most extensively prescribed classes of antimicrobial agents in human and veterinary medicine. However, their widespread use has raised growing concerns regarding antibiotic resistance, drug safety, and the presence of residual antibiotics in pharmaceutical products, biological fluids, foodstuffs, and environmental samples. As a result, the development of sensitive, selective, and rapid analytical methods for the determination of β-lactam antibiotics has become critically important. Among the available analytical techniques, fluorescence-based methods have gained increasing attention due to their high sensitivity, operational simplicity, low cost, and suitability for trace-level detection. This review presents a comprehensive overview of fluorescence-based approaches for the determination of representative β-lactam antibiotics, with particular emphasis on amoxicillin, cefixime, and cephalexin. Various fluorometric strategies including direct fluorescence, derivatization-based assays, fluorescence quenching and enhancement mechanisms, ratiometric sensing, and nanomaterial-assisted platforms such as quantum dots, carbon dots, metal–organic frameworks, and molecularly imprinted polymers are critically discussed. The analytical performance of reported methods is compared in terms of linear dynamic range, limits of detection, selectivity, and applicability to real samples. Overall, this review highlights the significant potential of fluorescence-based techniques for reliable β-lactam antibiotic analysis in pharmaceutical quality control, food safety monitoring, and environmental assessment.

Receive Date

16 May 2026

Revise Date

25 June 2026

Accept Date

12 July 2026

Publication Date

2026