Detection of organophosphorus pesticides by nanogold/mercaptomethamidophos multi-residue electrochemical biosensor

Abstract

Based on the successful synthesis of mercaptomethamidophos as a substrate, a novel nanogold/mercaptomethamidophos multi-residue electrochemical biosensor was designed and fabricated by combining nanoscale effect, strong Au–S bonds as well as interaction between acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and mercaptomethamidophos, which can simultaneously detect 11 kinds of organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) and total amount of OPPs using indirect competitive method. Electrochemical behavior of the modified electrode was characterized by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The AChE concentration and incubation time were optimized at 37.4 °C to achieve the best detection effect. This biosensor exhibits excellent electrochemical properties with a wider linear range of 0.1 ~ 1500 ng·mL−1, lower detection limit of 0.019 ~ 0.077 ng·mL−1, better stability and repeatability, which realizes the rapid detection of total amount of OPPs, and can simultaneously detect a large class of OPPs rather than one kind of OPP. Two OPPs (trichlorfon, dichlorvos) were detected in actual samples of apple and cabbage and achieved satisfactory test results.