Developing acetylcholinesterase-based inhibition assay by modulated synthesis of silver nanoparticles: applications for sensing of organophosphorus pesticides

Microwave-assisted synthesis of silver nanoparticles as a colorimetric sensor for hydrogen peroxide

To consider silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as a colorimetric sensor for H2O2 we require investigation of the effects of the homogeneity of the nanoparticle size and morphology on the sensor parameters. Uniformly-sized Ag nanoparticles with diameters of ∼18.8 ± 2.8 nm were produced using microwave irradiation (AgNP1) but non-uniform particles with diameters of ∼71.2 ± 19.4 nm (AgNP2) were formed without microwave irradiation. Microwave synthesis produced AgNP1 with superiority in terms of repeatability, selectivity and sensor stability for up to eight months of storage over AgNP2. AgNP1 exhibited higher sensitivity and detection limits in the working range of 0.01-40000 μM as compared to AgNP2. The application of the AgNP sensor to milk samples provided recovery values of 99.09-100.56% for AgNP1 and 98.18-101.90% for AgNP2. Microwave irradiation resulted in strong and uniform PVP-Ag interactions for isotropic growth into small nanoparticles. Size and morphology uniformity determined the characteristics of the AgNP sensor that can be applied for H2O2 detection in a wide range of concentrations and real-time evaluation, with the potential for industrial applications.

Bioinspired Multifunctional Silver Nanoparticles for Optical Sensing Applications: A Sustainable Approach

Silver nanoparticles developed via biosynthesis are the most fascinating nanosized particles and encompassed with excellent physicochemical properties. The bioinspired nanoparticles with different shapes and sizes have attracted huge attention due to their stability, low cost, environmental friendliness, and use of less hazardous chemicals. This is an ideal method for synthesizing a range of nanosized metal particles from plants and biomolecules. Optical biosensors are progressively being fabricated for the attainment of sustainability by using opportunities offered by nanotechnology. This review focuses mainly on tuning the optical properties of the metal nanoparticles for optical sensing to explore the importance and applications of bioinspired silver nanoparticles. Further, this review deliberates the role of bioinspired silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) in biomedical, agricultural, environmental, and energy applications. Profound insight into the antimicrobial properties of these nanoparticles is also appreciated. Tailor-made bioinspired nanoparticles with effectuating characteristics can unsurprisingly target tumor cells and distribute enwrapped payloads intensively. Existing challenges and prospects of bioinspired Ag NPs are also summarized. This review is expected to deliver perceptions about the progress of the next generation of bioinspired Ag NPs and their outstanding performances in various fields by promoting sustainable practices for fabricating optical sensing devices.

A Cationic Surfactant-Decorated Liquid Crystal-Based Aptasensor for Label-Free Detection of Malathion Pesticides in Environmental Samples

We report a liquid crystal (LC)-based aptasensor for the detection of malathion using a cationic surfactant-decorated LC interface. In this method, LCs displayed dark optical images when in contact with aqueous cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) solution due to the formation of a self-assembled CTAB monolayer at the aqueous/LC interface, which induced the homeotropic orientation of LCs. With the addition of malathion aptamer, the homeotropic orientation of LCs changed to a planar one due to the interactions between CTAB and the aptamer, resulting in a bright optical image. In the presence of malathion, the formation of aptamer-malathion complexes caused a conformational change of the aptamers, thereby weakening the interactions between CTAB and the aptamers. Therefore, CTAB is free to induce a homeotropic ordering of the LCs, which corresponds to a dark optical image. The developed sensor exhibited high specificity for malathion determination and a low detection limit of 0.465 nM was achieved. Moreover, the proposed biosensor was successfully applied to detect malathion in tap water, river water, and apple samples. The proposed LC-based aptasensor is a simple, rapid, and convenient platform for label-free monitoring of malathion in environmental samples.

Fluorescent and colorimetric dual-response sensor based on copper (II)-decorated graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets for detection of toxic organophosphorus

An efficient and convenient detection method for organophosphorus pesticide (OP) residues is needed because of their high neurotoxicity and severe threat to food safety. OPs effectively reduce the production of thiocholine in the acetylcholinesterase/acetylthiocholine reaction by inhibiting the activity of acetylcholinesterase. Therefore, we developed a feasible and convenient fluorescent and colorimetric dual-response sensor based on the competitive complexation of Cu²⁺ between graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets and thiocholine for the rapid detection of OPs with high sensitivity. Malathion was used as a model OP, and a linear range of 70-800 nM with a detection limit of 6.798 nM for a fluorescent signaling platform and 2.5-25 nM with a detection limit of 1.204 nM for a colorimetric probe were attained. The constructed probe was successfully applied to determine OP in actual samples of cabbages leaves and tap water. The results indicated that the dual-response probe was reliable and sensitive to actual samples.

ThThnated Development of a pH assisted AgNP-based colorimetric sensor Array for simultaneous identification of phosalone and azinphosmethyl pesticides

Development of simple and rapid methods for identification of pesticides, due to their broad usage and harmful effects on mammals, has been known as a critical demand. Herein, we have introduced a silver nanoparticle (AgNP) based colorimetric sensor array for simultaneous identification of Azinphosmethyl (AM) and Phosalone (PS) pesticides. In the presence of the target pesticides, unmodified AgNPs at various pHs (4.5, 5.5 and 9.5) showed different aggregation behaviors. As a result of aggregation, the color and UV-Vis spectra of AgNPs changed differentially, leading to distinct response patterns for AM and PS. The aggregation induced spectral changes of AgNPs, were used to identify AM and PS with the help of linear discriminant analysis (LDA). The applicability of the proposed sensor array was then evaluated by identifying the target pesticides in apple samples. Altogether, the developed AgNPs based colorimetric sensor array can be potentially exploited as an efficient discrimination tool in the near future for agrichemical applications.

A supersensitive silver nanoprobe based aptasensor for low cost detection of malathion residues in water and food samples

In the present study, we report a highly sensitive, rapid and low cost colorimetric monitoring of malathion (an organophosphate insecticide) employing a basic hexapeptide, malathion specific aptamer (oligonucleotide) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as a nanoprobe. AgNPs are made to interact with the aptamer and peptide to give different optical responses depending upon the presence or absence of malathion. The nanoparticles remain yellow in color in the absence of malathion owing to the binding of aptamer with peptide which otherwise tends to aggregate the particles because of charge based interactions. In the presence of malathion, the agglomeration of the particles occurs which turns the solution orange. Furthermore, the developed aptasensor was successfully applied to detect malathion in various water samples and apple. The detection offered high recoveries in the range of 89-120% with the relative standard deviation within 2.98-4.78%. The proposed methodology exhibited excellent selectivity and a very low limit of detection i.e. 0.5pM was achieved. The developed facile, rapid and low cost silver nanoprobe based on aptamer and peptide proved to be potentially applicable for highly selective and sensitive colorimetric sensing of trace levels of malathion in complex environmental samples.

Acetylcholinesterase-functionalized two-dimensional photonic crystals for the detection of organophosphates

AChE-modified 2D-PC was developed for the easy and visual detection of organophosphates.

A novel enzyme-mediated gold nanoparticle synthesis and its application forin situdetection of horseradish peroxidase inhibitor phenylhydrazine

Biocatalyzed gold nanoparticle synthesis for thein situdetection of horseradish peroxidase inhibitor (phenylhydrazine) has been demonstrated.

A novel upconversion luminescence turn-on nanosensor for ratiometric detection of organophosphorus pesticides

An upconversion luminescence “turn-on” nanosensor for the ratiometric and sensitive detection of organophosphorus pesticides was fabricated.

A new water-soluble and colorimetric fluorescent probe for highly sensitive detection of organophosphorus pesticides

A new water-soluble fluorescent probe bearing 1,8-naphthalimide dye, a quaternary ammonium salt and a boronate group was developed for the detection of organophosphorus pesticides.

Spectrofluorimetric determination of Hg2+ and Pb2+ using acetylcholinesterase (AChE)-based formation of silver nanoparticles

A novel fluorimetric detection method for Hg²⁺ and Pb²⁺ based on in situ formation of AgNPs, where thiocholine (TCh), a product obtained by the hydrolysis of acetylcholine (ACh) by acetylcholinesterase (AChE), can act as a stabilizing agent.

Application of silver nanoparticles for a highly selective colorimetric assay of endrin in water and food samples based on stereoselective endo-recognition

We report a novel and facile strategy for a highly stereoselective colorimetric assay for the detection of endrin pesticide in water and food samples using sucrose capped silver nanoparticles (AgNPs).

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE)-mediated immobilization of silver nanoparticles for the detection of organophosphorus pesticides

We report an enzyme-mediated biosensor with the immobilization of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) for the detection of organophosphorus (OP) pesticides.