Posted by This review provides a comprehensive overview of CD-based electrochemical sensors for PFAS detection, with a particular emphasis on the transition from host–guest recognition to signal transduction. The fundamental mechanisms of CD–PFAS inclusion are first discussed, highlighting the roles of cavity size, hydrophobic interactions, and electrostatic effects in governing binding affinity and selectivity. The review then examines how these molecular recognition events are translated into measurable electrical signals across different electrochemical platforms, including impedance spectroscopy, voltammetry, potentiometry, and organic electrochemical transistors. Special attention is given to interfacial processes such as charge redistribution, ion transport, and modulation of electronic and ionic conductivity, which bridge molecular-scale interactions with macroscopic signal outputs. The integration of CDs with functional materials, including nanostructured electrodes, conductive polymers, and molecularly imprinted systems, is further discussed as a key strategy to enhance sensor performance. Moreover, current challenges and future perspectives are outlined, particularly regarding selective discrimination among PFAS homologues and the quantitative correlation between binding thermodynamics and signal response.
Thi Sinh Vo, Kyunghoon Kim (2026) Cyclodextrin-based electrochemical sensors for PFAS detection: From host–guest recognition to signal transduction. Journal of Water Process Engineering 91, 110523. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwpe.2026.110523.