Screen-printed electrodes, with genetically modified cholinesterase, for detection of pesticides in water-miscible organic solvent

Abstract

A disposable cholinesterase biosensor based on screen-printed electrodes (SPE) was assembled and used to assess the effect of miscible organic solvents on the acetylcholinesterase activity and on the inhibitory effect of organophosphorus pesticides on acetylcholinesterase activity. Acetonitrile, ethanol and DMSO were tested in a range of 0 to 30% mixed with phosphate buffer (0.1M, pH7). With 5% acetonitrile and 10% ethanol, an increase of the recorded current was observed. The addition of 0.2% polyethylenimine to the enzyme preparation, before immobilization, allowed the utilization of 15% acetonitrile without negative effect on the enzyme activity. An inhibition calibration curve was obtained using chlorpyrifosethyl-oxon, a compound widely used for agricultural purposes. The lowest detectable amount was 1ppb following an incubation time of 10min. The use of 5% acetonitrile and 0.2% polyethylenimine did not interfere with the enzyme-inhibitors interactions. The second part is focused on the evaluation of the activity of several genetically modified acetylcholinesterases obtained from Drosophila melanogaster and their inhibition constant face to the methamediphos. The selection of one of them and its immobilization on a SPE allowed a detection of 1.4ppb methamediphos.