Specification
The invention relates to a method and a device for pesticide detection using cholinesterase.
Particularly,-the invention relates to a new pesticide detection method based on magnetic nanoparticles,
on which cholinesterase (acetylcholinesterase, ACE) is immobilized, wherein the magnetic
nanoparticles serve as carriers to collect the cholinesterase in a solution. Furthermore, the invention
relates to a detector for pesticide detection that employs the above method.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
On average, 2.5 million tons of pesticides are consumed each year all over the world and most
of them are applied to crops. Unfortunately, over 95% of pesticides reach air, water, and soil through
rainfall and sunlight, which cause serious pollution. On the other hand, pesticides remained in crops
may also cause severe food poisoning accidents. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates
that there are one million pesticide poisoning cases and 20,000 deaths every year globally. Hence,
it is urgent and important to develop a portable household pesticide sensor.
Organochlorines, organophosphates and carbamates were three major pesticides in the 1960s.
However, it was discovered that most of organochlorines are persistent organic pollutants which
cause potential hazards when they are released into the environment. For example, DDT, which was
widely used to control pests in the mid 20th century, which is shown in researches that it also
acc&ulates in aquatic food chains and has been banned in a lot of countries. Currently,
organophosphates and carbamates have largely replaced organochlorines and the two pesticides
share around 70% of the pesticide market. Both of organophosphates and carbamates function
through inhibiting the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and thus causing excessive
acetylcholine (ACh, the substrate of AChE) to accumulate in the synaptic cleft. The excessive
acetylcholine causes neuromuscular paralysis (i.e. interminable muscle contractions) throughout the
entire body, leading to death by asphyxiation. Based on the inhibitory effect of organophosphates
and carbarnates on AChE activity, some pesticide sensors have been developed. Basically, their
detection methods can be classified into two categories. One is by adding
5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB), known as Ellrnan's reagent and detecting via a
spectrometer. DTNB reacts with thiocholine (TCh) which is the a hydrolysis product of
acetylthiocholine (ATCh, ACh is replaced by ATCh to provide a disulfide bond) to give lm,
namely 2-nitro-5-thiobenzoic acid, which is a yellow product with the maximum absorption at 412
nrn, as shown in Fig. 1. The other detection method comprises pH measurement and electrochemical
method, etc., as shown in Figure 2.
Compared to the conventional methods requiring professionals and only useful in analytical
chemistry laboratories (chromatography and coupled chromatography-spectrometry: GC-MS,
HPLC-MS), AChE detection system has the potential to complement or replace the conventional
methods by simplifying or eliminating sample preparation protocols and making in situ testing easier
and faster as well as significantly decreasing in the cost per analysis. However, the poor reliability
and short lifespan of AChE detection system still restricts its wider application. Its reliability can be
enhanced by increasing the signal to noise ratio (SN, and the short lifespan of AChE resulting from
the irreversible or partially reversible inhibition reaction between AChE and the pesticide can be
easily overcome by replacing with fresh AChE. The traditional way to increase S/N is via the
immobilization of AChE on the surface of an electrode with high electron transfer. Various matrix
materials have beenemployed, such as Prussian blue,7 cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc),
Poly(amido-arnine) (PAMAM), polyaniline, Au nanoparticles (AuNPs), muti-walled carbon
nanotubes (MWNTs), A1203, Si02, ZnO and so on. A low detection limit formethyl paraoxon has
been reduced to 6x lo-'' M in amperometric biosensor based on AChE immobilized on AuNPs and
silk fibroin modified Pt electrode. The limitation of this amperometric sensor in practicable
application is its short lifespan in pesticide detection. Although the inhibited AChE could be
partially reactivated by oximes, such as prolidoxime iodide, to retain the activity of AChE, the
ACE-immobilized layer on electrode should still be replaced frequently. The replacement of AChE
layers needs careful handling; otherwise the ACE layer will lose contact with electrode so as to
affect the measurement.
To avoid the AChE reactivation which is time-consuming and the replacement of ACE layer
which is labor-consuming, herein, we invented a new pesticide detection method based on
AChE-immobilized water-soluble magnetic nanoparticles. In this system, AChE is still the signal
source and magnetic nanoparticles serve as an AChE carrier to increase S/N by collecting AChE
using magnetic field. When the particle size of the magnetic nanoparticles is smaller than 20 nrn, the
magnetic nanoparticles are superparamagnetic, which means that if the magnetic field is removed;
these water-soluble magnetic nanoparticles can be washed away by water. By this way, the inhibited
AChE can be easily replaced after detection. Because fiesh AChE is used every time, no reactivation
is nedded, and the drawback of short lifespan of AChE can be avoided.
CONTENS OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a method and a device using acetylcholinesteraseirnmobilized with
magnetic nanoparticles for detecting pesticide. In particular, the invention relates to the following
aspects:
1. A method for pesticide detection, comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a sample to be detected;
(b) preparing magnetic nanoparticles, and contacting cholinesterase with the magnetic
nanoparticles to obtain cholinesterase-irnmbolilized magnetic nanoparticles;
(c) adding the cholinesterase-immbolilized magnetic nanoparticles obtained in step (b) to the
sample to be detected of step (a), and incubating;
(d) collecting the magnetic nanoparticles by a magnetic field; and
(e) removing the magnetic field,
dispersing the collected magnetic nanoparticles in an enzymatic activity detection system,
dectecting the enzymatic activity of cholinesterase, and
determining the presence or the content of the pesticide based on the enzymatic activity.
2. The method according to aspect 1, wherein the pesticide is a chemically synthesized
pesticide.
3. The method according to aspect 1, wherein the pesticide is selected fiom the group consisting of
organophosphates pesticides, carbarnates pesticides, organic nitrogens pesticides, pyrethroids pesticides,
organochlorines pesticides and organoflurines pesticides.
4. The method according to aspect 3, wherein the organophosphates pesticide is selected from
the group consisting of: phosphates, monothiophosphates, dithiophosphates, phosphonates,
phosphoamides, thiophosphoamides, and pyrophosphates.
5. The method according to aspect 3, wherein the organophosphates pesticide is slected fiom:
glyphosate, dimethoate and Malaoxon.
6. The method according to aspect 3, wherein the carbamates pesticide is selected fiom the
group consisting of: N-methylcarbarnates and dimethylcarbamates.
7. The method according to aspect 3, wherein the carbarnates pesticide is selected fiom Carbaryl and
Isoprocarb.
8. The method according to any of aspects 1 to 7, wherein the magnetic nanoparticles is
prepared by a method selected from the group consisting of: a wet chemistry method, a chemistry
vapor method and a physical method.
9. The method according to aspect 8, wherein the wet chemistry method is selected from a
precipitation method, a sol-gel method, a microemulsion and inverse microemulsion method, a
hydrothermal method and a polyol reduction method; the chemistry vapor method is selected from
a chemical vapor deposition, a chemical vapor condensation and a plasma evaporation method; and
the physical process is selected from an evaporation condensation method and a magnetron
sputtering method.
10. The method according to any of aspects 1 to 9, wherein the magnetic nanoparticle is
selected from the magnetic nanoparticles of alloy, ferrite and / or intermetallic compound.
11. The method according to any of aspects 1 to 10, wherein the magnetic nanoparticle is
magnetic nanoparticles containing iron, cobalt, nickel or the alloy thereof, preferably Fe304
nanoparticles.
12. The method according to any of aspects 1 to 11, wherein the surface of the magnetic
nanoparticle comprises polar group, preferably citrate or hydroxyl group.
13. The method according to any of aspects 1 to 12, wherein the cholinesterase is selected from
the group consisting of: acetylcholinesterase, propionylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase.
14. The method according to aspect 13, wherein the acetylcholinesterase is obtained from a
source selected from the group consisting of: microorganism, plants and animals, preferably electric
eels or electric skates.
15. The method according to any of aspects 1 to 14, further comprising a step of calibrating the
magnetic nanoparticles, preferably by a standard curve, prior to step (b).
16. The method according to any of aspects 1 to 15, further comprising a step of calibrating
concentration of cholinesterase, preferably by a standard curve, prior to step (b).
17. The method according to any of aspects 1 to 16, further comprising a step of washing the
magnetic nanoparticles, preferably using deionized water, for 1-5 times, more preferably for 4 times,
'prior to step (b).
18. The method according to any of aspects 1 to 17, wherein the immobilization of
cholinesterase onto magnetic nanoparticles in step (b) is carried out by a method selected fiom the
group consisting of: adsorption method, chemical crosslinking method, covalent linking method,
physical embedding method, electrochemical polymerization method and molecular self-assembly.
19. The method according to any of aspects 1 to 18, wherein the immobilization of
cholinesterase onto magnetic nanoparticles in step (b) is carried out under a condition of pH 6-8,
preferably pH 7.
20. The method according to any of aspects 1 to 19, wherein during the immobilization of
cholinesterase onto magnetic nanoparticles in step (b), cholinesterase and the magnetic
nanoparticles are added in a ratio of 20-330: 1 Ulg, preferably 125-320: 1 Ulg, more preferably
250-3 10: 1 Ulg, more preferably 280: 1 Ulg.
21. The method according to any of aspects 1 to 20, wherein the immobilization of
cholinesterase onto magnetic nanoparticles in step (b) is carried out as follows:
(A) dispersing the magnetic nanoparticles in deionized water or a phophate buffered solution;
(B) dissolving cholinesterase in deionized water or a phophate buffered solution containing
bovine serum albumin (BSA); and
(C) contacting the magnetic nanoparticles solution with the cholinesterase solution.
22. The method according to any of aspects 1 to 21, wherein the immobilization of
cholinesterase onto magnetic nanoparticles in step (b) is carried out as follows:
(a) dispersing the magnetic nanoparticles in deionized water;
(b) dissolving cholinesterase in a phophate buffered solution containing bovine serum albumin
(BSA); and
(c) contacting the magnetic nanoparticles solution with the cholinesterase solution.
23. The method according to any of aspects 2 1 to 22, wherein the concentration of the magnetic
nanoparticles solution is 0.1-1 0 g/L,pr eferably 0.5-5 g/L, more preferably 1-3 g/L,m ore preferably
approximately 2 g L .
24. The method according to any of aspects 21 to 22, wherein the concentration of
cholinesterase solution is 0.1-10 Ulml, preferably 0.5-2 Ulml, more preferably 1 Ulml.
25. The method according to any of aspects 21 to 22, wherein the concentration of bovine
serum albumin in phosphate buffered solution is 0.1-5 g/L, preferably 0.5-2 g/L, more preferably
0.8-1.2 g/L,m ore preferably 1 g/L.
26. The method according to any of aspects 1 to 25, wherein 0.05-1 ml, preferably 0.1-0.5 ml,
more preferably 0.25 ml of cholinesterase-immbolilized magnetic nanoparticles solution is added
into the sample to be detected in step (c).
27. The method according to any of aspects 1 to 26, wherein, in step (c), the sample to be
detected and the cholinesterase-immbolilized magnetic nanoparticles are incubated at a temperature
of 0-60°C, preferably 20-50°C, more preferably 40°C for 2 minutes - 2 hours, preferably 20 minutes
- 1 hour, more preferably 40 minutes.
28. The method according to any of aspects 1 to 27, wherein the magnetic nanoparticles are
collected by a magnet coated with an outer layer in step (d).
29. The method according to aspect 28, wherein the diameter of the magnet is approximately
2-10 mm, preferably 3-8 mm, more preferably 4 mm.
30. The method according to any of aspects 1 to 29, wherein the step (d) is performed for 1-10
minutes, preferably 1-5 minutes, more preferably 100 seconds.
31. The method according to any of aspects 1 to 30, wherein at least 60%, preferably at least
80%, more preferably at least 90%, more preferably substantially 100% of the magnetic
nanoparticles are colleced in step (d).
32. The method according to any of aspects 1 to 3 1, wherein the enzymatic activity detection
system in step (e) has a pH value of 2- 1 1, preferably 6- 10, more preferably 7-9.
33. The method according to any of aspects 1 to 32, wherein the detection of the enzymatic
activity of cholinesterase in step (e) is performed by a pH value measurement method, an
electrochemistry method or a spectrophotometry method, preferably by the spectrophotometry
method.
34. The method according to aspect 33, wherein, in step (e), 5,5'dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid)
(DTNB) and thiocholine (TCh) are added for detecting the enzymatic activity of cholinesterase by the
spectrophotometry method.
35. The method according to aspect 34, wherein the spectrophotometry method is used to
determine the speed of absorbency change; the higher speed of absorbency change indicates a higher
7
enzymatic activity, whereas the lower speed of absorbency change indicates a lower enzymatic
activity.
36. The method according to any of aspects 1 to 35, wherein the higher enzymatic activity
determined in step (e) indicates a smaller amount of pesticide contained in the sample to be detected,
whereas the lower enzymatic activity determined in step (e) indicates a larger amount of pesticide
contained in the sample to be detected.
37. A portable detector for pesticide detection, comprising: a power supply system, a storage
system, a control system, and a determination and analysis system.
38. The detector according to aspect 37, wherein the power supply system is a battery (I), which
is used for supply electricity to other systems of the detector.
39. The detector according to any of aspects 37-38, wherein the storage system comprises a
DTNB container (5), a thiocholine container (6), a magnetic nanoparticle solution container (13),
and a magnet device (14) provided with a magnet for collecting and transferring the magnetic
nanoparticles.
40. The detector according to aspect 39, wherein the magnet device (14) comprises a casing
(14a) and an inside magnet (14b), wherein the inside magnet (14b) is removable from the casing
(14a).
41. The detector according to aspect 40, wherein the casing (14a) is made of glass or
polytetrafluoroethylene.
42. The detector according to any of aspects 37-41, wherein the control system comprises a
button (3) connected to the DTNB container (5) for controlling the addition of DTNB, a button (4)
connected to the thiocholine container (6) for controlling the addition of cholinesterase, and a button
(12) for controlling the release of a cholinesterase-imrnbolilized magnetic nanoparticles solution.
43. The detector according to any of aspects 37-42, wherein the determination and analysis
system comprises
a light emitting diode (8) that provides the wavelength required by the spectrum detection;
a chip (2) connected to the light emitting diode (8) for controlling the light emitting diode;
a cuvette (9) that conntected to the DTNB container (5) through the button (3), and connected
to thiocholine container (6) through the button (4), and can be inserted in to the cuvette (9) of the
magnet device(l4);
a photoelectric conversion device (10) for converting the collected optical signal to electrical
signal;
a liquid crystal screen (7) for displaying the detected results; and
a data processing chip (1 1) connected to the photoelectric conversion device (1 0) and the liquid
crystal screen (7), repectively.
44. The detector according to any of aspects 37-43, wherein the detector is pen-like.
45. A method of pesticide detection using a detector as defined in any of aspects 37 to 44,
comprising the steps of:
(a) pressing button (12), so that a solution of cholinesterase-immbolilized magnetic
nanoparticles is contacted with a sample to be detected;
(b) collecting the magnetic nanoparticles in the sample by a magnet device (14), inserting the
magnet device (14) into cuvette(9), and then removing the inside magnet (14b) from the magnet
device(l4);
(c) pressing button (3), adding DTNB and the cholinesterase-immbolilized magnetic
nanoparticles on the casing (14a) of the magnet device(l4) into the the cuvette (9);
(d) connecting to the electric supply, and pressing button (4) to add acetylthiocholine into the
cuvette after the reading on the liquid crystal display screen becomes stable; and
(e) determining the concentration of the pesticide in the sample according to the color change
speed of the cuvette by a determination and analysis system, and displaying on the iquid crystal
display screen (7).
46. The method according to aspect 45, wherein step (a) is carried out for 1-5 minutes, preferably
3 minutes.
47. The method according to aspect 45, wherein the collecting in step (b) is carried out for 10-60
seconds, preferably 30 seconds.
48. A use of a detector according to any of aspects 37 to 44 for pesticide detection.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 shows the chemical equation for the hydrolysis of ATCh and for the reaction between
TCh and DTNB, as well as the UV-vis spectrum for TNB.
Fig. 2 shows an exemplary method for pesticide detection by acetylcholinesteraseimmoblized
magnetic nanoparticles.
Fig. 3 shows the recollection of the magnetic nanoparticles by a magnet.
Fig. 4(a) shows a XRD pattern of the magnetic nanoparticles precipitated at 100°C with Fe304
as reference; Fig. 4 (b) shows the TG curve of magnetic nanoparticle powders.
Fig. 5(a) shows the UV-vis spectrum for magnetic nanoparticles; Fig. 5(b) shows the standard
curve for the concentration of the magnetic nanoparticles and the absorbance thereof at 412 nrn.
Fig. 6(a) shows the UV-vis spectrum of the reaction scanned at 412 nrn; Fig. 6(b) shows the
standard curve for the concentration of acetylcholinesterase and the slope at the beginning of the
reaction.
Fig. 7(a) shows the effect of the times of washing magnetic nanoparticles on the amount of
acetylcholinesterase immobilized on MNPs; Fig. 7(b) shows the influence of the pH value of the
PBS buffer solution on the amount of immobilized acetylcholinesterase.
Fig. 8(a) shows the influence of the volume of the acetylcholinesterase added into the PBS
@H=7.4) on the response time; Fig. 8(b) shows the influence of the pH value of the detection
system with 125 pl of acetylcholinesterase (1 Ulml) solution added on the activity of
acetylcholinesterase.
Fig. 9 shows an analysis of the stability of the free and immobilized acetylcholinesterases.
Fig. 10 shows an analysis of the stability of DTNB (stored at an ambient temperature for 40
Fig. 11 shows the responses of acetylcholinesterase to the following different pesticides:
dimethoate, glyphosate, Carbaryl, Isoprocarb and Malaoxon.
Fig. 12 shows the inhibition curve of acetylcholinesterase-immobilized magnetic nanoparticles
by Carbaryl.
Fig. 13 shows the relaitionship between the amount of added acetylcholinesterase and the
amount of the actually immobilized enzyme (n=3) when acetylcholinesterase is immobilized in a
certain amount of magnetic nanoparticles solution.
Fig. 14 shows the relationship between the amount of the immobilized acetylcholinesterase and
the pH value (n=3).
Fig. 15 shows the influence of the pH value of acetylcholinesterase (in a free state, without
being immobilized on the surface of magnetic nanoparticles) at detection on activity: Fig. 15(a)
10
shows the absorbance change at 412 nrn at different pH values, wherein the slope of UV-vis
spectrometry spectrum curve changing with the pH value reflects the enzymatic activity changing
with the pH value; Fig. 15(b) shows the enzymatic activity curve at a pH value of 2-1 1 (wherein the
enzymatic activity is the result obtained by normalization based on the point (pH=9) having the
highest enzymatic activity).
Fig. 16 shows the addition of the polymer V.S. the amount of the immobilized
acetylcholinesterase (n=3) during immobilizaion.
Fig. 17 (left) shows the inhibition effect of the addition of PDDA on the activity of
acetylcholinesterase (at a same acetylcholinesterase concentration); Fig. 17 (right) shows the
schematic diagram for the decomposition of acetylcholine catalyzed by acetylcholinesterase.
Fig. 18 shows the influence of the solvent system on the amount of the immobilized
acetylcholinesterase (n=3).
Fig. 19 shows the influence of BSA on the amount of the immobilized acetylcholinesterase.
Fig. 20 shows several methods for the detection of the acetylcholinesterase activity.
Fig. 21 shows the pH reponses to the decomposition of ATCh catalyzed by
acetylcholinesterase.
Fig. 22 shows the detection of the enzyme activity by an electrochemical method.
Fig. 23 shows the relation curve for the amount of ATCh added V.S. the electricity.
Fig. 24 shows a schematic diagram of the pesticide detection by magnetic nanoparticles with
acetylcholinesterase loaded on the surface.
Fig. 25 shows the curve for the inhibition ratio change of Isoprocarb on acetylcholinesterase at
different temperatures with the reaction time.
Fig. 26 shows the comparation among three methods for the detection of pesticide content
using acetylcholinesterase.
Fig. 27 shows the schematic diagram of the structure of the detection device.
DETAILD DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying
drawings, throughout which like parts are referred to by like references, and in which:
Definition
The term "pesticide" as used herein means all insecticidal substances, bactericidal substances,
harmful animal (or weeds) killing substances, etc., which are applied in the agricultural production
to ensure and improve the growth of the plants and crops. In particular, it refers to reagents that are
used in agriculture for preventing diseases and insects, regulating plant growth, and weeding.
In terms of their main use, pesticides are classified into insecticides, acaricides, rodenticides,
molluscacides, bactericides, nematocides, herbicides, plant growth regulators, etc. Based on their origins,
pesticides can be classified into mineralderived pesticides (inorganic compounds), biogenetic pesticides
(natural organics, antibiotics, and microorganism) and chemically synthesized pesticides, etc.
Mineralderived pesticides are pesticides originating h m the inorganic compounds of natural mineral
raw materials and petroleum. It includes arsenides, sulfide, compounds containing copper, phosphides
and fluorides, and petroleum emulsion, etc. Frequently used varieties include Sulfur suspension,
Bordeaux, etc. Biogenetic pesticides refer to pesticides developed using biological resources which
include anirnail-originated pesticides, (for example, bisultap, methoprene, insect sex athctant,
Trichograrnma, etc.), plant-originated pesticides (for example, pyrethrin, nirnbin, clove oil, ethephon,
etc.) and mimrganism-originated pesticides (Jingganmycin, Ba.trytis bassiana, Bacillus thuringiensis,
etc.).
Chemically synthesized pesticides refer to pesticides artificially synthesized and produced in
chemical industry, which has many varieties, are widely used and very efficient. Major chemically
synthesized pesticides include organophosphate pesticides, carbamate pesticides, organic nitrogen
pesticides, pyrethroid pesticides, organochlorine pesticides and organoflurine pesticides, etc. The
organophosphate pesticides specifically include phosphates, monothiophosphates,
dithiophosphates, phosphonates, phosphoamides, thiophosphoamides, and pyrophosphates, etc.
Preferably, representative organophosphate pesticides are glyphosate, dimethoate and Malaoxon.
The carbamate pesticides specifically include N-methylcarbamates and dimethylcarbarnates, etc.
Preferably, representative carbamate pesticides are Carbaryl and Isoprocarb.
Nanoparticles
The term "nanoparticles" as used herein mean particles with particle size between 1 nm to 100
nm, which are also referrd to as superfine particles. Nanoparticles lie beween the microscopic
system and the macroscopic system and are a collective consisting of limited number of atoms or
molecules. Therefore, nanoparticles have physical and chemical properties such as large surface
area, large surface curvature, and show the volume effect, surface effect, quantum size effect and
microscopic quantum tunnelling effect.
Magnetic Nanoparticles
The term "magnetic nanoparticles" as used herein refer to nanoparticles having magnetism, which
are also referred to as magnetic nanomaterials. The characteristics of magnetic nanomaterials are
different b m conventional magnetic materials, because their characteristic physical length associated
with magnetism is right in the order of nanometers, for example: single magnetic domain size, critical
size of superpararnagnetism, exchange length, and electronic mean fmz path are in the order of 1-100
nm, when the size of a magnetic substance is comparable with these characteristic physical length,
abnormal magnetic properties will appear.
For example, when the particle size of magnetic nanoparticles is smaller than the critical size
of superparamagnetism, the particles is present in a superparamagnetism state without any coercitive
force and remanent magnetism. It is well known that, for bulky magnetic materials (for example, Fe,
Co, Ni), multiple domains are normally formed in the body to decrease the demagnetizing energy of
the system. A nanoparticle shows a high coercive force when having the critical size of a single
domain. Small size effect and surface effect lead to a magnetic nanoparticle with lower Curie
temperature. In addition, the magnetic nanoparticle has a saturation magnetization (Ms) lower than
that of conventional materials, has a specific saturation magnetization that decreases as size thereof
decreases. A magnetic transition may even occur to the magnetic materials when particle sizes
thereof are reduced to an order of nanometer.
The magnetic nanoparticles of the invention can be prepared by a conventional method known
in the art, comprising, but not limited to, a wet chemical method, a chemical vapor method and a
physical process. The wet chemical method comprises a precipitation method, a sol-gel method,
microemulsion and inverse microemulsion method, a hydrothermal method and a polyol reduction
method, etc.; the chemical vapor method comprise chemical vapor deposition , chemical vapor
condensation and plasma evaporation method, etc.; the physical process comprises evaporation
condensation and a magnetron sputtering method, etc. See, for example, Xiaoyan Zhang, et al.,
Journal of Magnetic Materials and Devices, Volume 35, Issue 6, December 2004, pages 14-17.
The magnetic nanoparticles of the invention are magnetic nanoparticles of alloy, ferrite and I or
intermetallic compound. Preferably, the magnetic nanoparticles are magnetic nanoparticles
containing iron, cobalt, nickel and I or alloy thereof, preferably Fe304 nanoparticles. In a preferable
embodiment, the surface of the magnetic nanoparticles comprises a polar group, preferably citrate or
hydroxy.
Cholinesterase
The tenn "cholinesterases" as used herein refers to the enzymes that hydrolyze various choline
esters to produce choline and carboxylic acid. Cholinesterases can be divided into true
cholinesterases and pseudocholinesterases. Ture cholinesteras, also referred to as
acetylcholinesterases (acetylcholinesterase, EC3.1.1.7), are enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of
acetylcholine to choline and acetic acid, and their catalytic activity can be inhibited by
organophosphates or carbamate pesticides. Ture cholinesterases mainly originate from synaptic
cleft of cholinergic nerve teminals in animals, and especially, much of them gather in the
postsynaptic membrane folds of the motor end plate; and also exist in cholinergic neurons and red
cells. Preferably, the acetylcholinesterase originates fiom electric eels or electric skates. This
enzyme has the strongest effect on acetylcholinewith the highest specificity. Pseudocholinesterases
comprise propionylcholinesterases and butyrylcholinesterases etc., which are widely present in glial
cells, blood plasma, livers, kidneys, and intestines of animals. Pseudocholinesterase has low
specificity for acetylcholine, and can hydrolyze other choline esters, such as succinylcholine.
Immobilization
The term "Immobilization", or "immobilizing", or "immobilize" as used herein, also reffered to as
"immobilized", refers to treating an enzyme by a physical or chemical process into a form that is not
easily run off h m a carrier. According to the invention, the immobilization of a cholinesterase
(especially acetylcholinesterase) onto magnetic nanoparticles can be carried out by any conventional
method known in the art, which comprises, but is not limited to, an adsorption method, a chemical
crosslink method, a covalent bonding method, a physical embedding method, an electrochemical
polymerization method and the molecular self-assembly, and so on. See, for example, Yansheng
GAO, et al., Shangdong Chemical Engineering, 2008, Volume 37, No. 4, pages 21 -22 and 30.
Collection
The term "collection", or "collecting" as used herein means collection to a high concentration
with a factor above 1.1 times. In particular, "collecting magnetic nanoparticles" according to of the
invention means collecting at least 50%, preferably at least 60%, more preferably at least 70%, more
preferably at least 80%, even more preferably at least 90%, e.g., at least 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%,
more preferably at least 99.5%, most preferably 100% of all the added nanaparticles.
Enzymatic Activity Detection Method
According to the invention, the detection of enzymatic activity can be performed by using a
spectrometry, a pH value measurement and an electrochemical method.
The term "spectrometry" as used herein, also referred to as "spectrophotometry", is performed as
follows: a cholinesterase is inhibited by a pesticide and thus deactivated after contacting with the
pesticide, after the addition of DTNB+ATCh, acetylthiocholine is hydrolyzed by the residual
cholinesterase to thiocholine and acetic acid, and then DTNB reacts with thiocholine to give TNB,
which has the maximal absorption at 412 nrn as detected with a spectrometer.
In spectrometry, the higher the speed of the absorbance change at 412 nrn, the faster the
increase of the TNB concentration, i.e., the fast the increase of the thiocholine concentration, i.e., the
higher the enzymatic activity, and the lower the pesticide content; while the lower the speed of the
absorpency change, the slower theincrease of the TNB concentration, i.e., the slower the increase of
the thiocholine concentration, i.e., the lower the enzymatic activity, the higher the pesticide content.
As a result, the presence or the content of pesticide in the sample to be detected is determined by the
absorbance change. Detection by spectrometry is fast with high sensitivity, which is a preferable
detection method.
The term "pH value measurement mehod" as used herein is performed as follows: ACh (ATCh)
is hydrolyzed by acetylcholinesterase to produce acetic acid and choline (thiocholine). As a result,
the activity of acetylcholinesterase can be detected by detecting the change in pH value of the
solution due to the acetic acid produced in the reaction.
For this reason, the applicant analyzed the pH reponses resulted fiom the decomposition of
ATCh catalyzed by acetylcholinesterase, as shown Fig. 21. As the reaction proceeds, the pH value
of the solution will gradually decrease. However, as the activity of acetylcholinesterase is closely
related to the pH value of the solution (as shown in Fig. 15), the reduction of pH value will inhibit
the catalytic activity of acetylcholinesterase, thus it will take a longer time for the pH value of the
solution to reach a equilibrium (close to 5 hours ). Therefore, detection of the pH change can not
lead to fast detection.
The term "electrochemical method" as used herein is performed as follows: acetylcholine
(acetylthiocholine) is hydrolyzed by acetylcholinesterase to produce acetic acid and choline
(thiocholine), thus the activity of acetylcholinesterase can be examined through detecting the
oxidation current (inverse current) of choline (thiocholine) by applying a certain voltage. As shown
in figures, without the addition of the acetylcholinesterase, there is no obvious oxidation peak
appearing in the cyclic voltarnpere curve; with the addition of the acetylcholinesterase, a oxidation
peak for thiocholine appears around 0.7 V.
Considering that the -OH hctional groups on choline (thiocholine) have a higher oxidation
potential, they will interfere with the detection, and thereby acetylthiocholine (ATCh) is usually used as
a substrate, ATCh is catalytically hydrolyzed by acetylcholinesterase to form a thiocholine (TCh) with a
-SH hctional group and having a oxidation potential of 0.7 V when the electrochemical method is used
for detection in the prior art. As shown in Fig. 22, the TCh content in solution can be calculated according
to the magnitude of the oxidation current at 0.7 V, then the activity of acetylcholinesterase can be otained.
Further, the content of the pesticide can be deduced based on the inhibition rate of the
acetylcholinesterase. As shown in Fig. 23, with the amount of the added ATCh increasing, hydrolysis
leads to more TCh, causing the increase of the oxdidation current at 0.7 V. In contrast to the detection of
the pH value reponse, the electrochemical method can achieve a faster response. As shown in Fig. 23, the
response time is about 40 seconds. However, in contrast to the spectrometry, the electrochemical method
has poor sensitivity, and consumes a larger amount of acetylcholinesterase and ATCh, which increases
the detection cost.
Moreover, it should be noted that, the spectrometry of the invention has advantages over the
detection methods used in the prior art (comprising a method that directly detects the absorbance of an
enzyme solution, and a detection method using electrodes loaded with magnetic nanoparticles and
acetylcholinesterase), which is manifested in at least the following aspects:
1. Comparison with the method that directly detects the absorbance of an enzyme solution
The direct detection of the absorbance of the enzyme solution is a method in which a solution
of free acetylcholinesterases (assuming that the concentration of the enzyme solution is A, the
addition volume is VAChEis) directly mixed with the solution to be detected (containing a pesticide
and having a volume of Vpesticidet,o) conduct an enzyme inhibition reaction. After a thorough
reaction, several volumes of the above solution (Vadd,w) ere added into a volume of DTNB solution
(VDm). ATCh (VATChw) as finally added to conduct the spectromic detection.
As the concentration of acetylcholinesterase was gradually diluted during the process, the
signals to be detected were weakened. The concentration of the acetylcholinesterase at the spectrum
detection can be obtained by a calculation according to the following formula:
By using the same experimental parameters as above and using the method according to the
invention wherein the acetylcholinesterases are enriched using magnetic nanoparticles after the
enzyme inhibition reaction and all transferred into the DTNB solution, the concentration of
acetylcholinesterase in the spectrometric detection is
AS 0 < Vadd. I VAChE+VpeCd,l 8) or too low (for example, pH<6), the immobilization of
acetylcholinesterase on the magnetic nanoparticles is negatively influenced.
Example 5: Influence of the polymer assisted immobilization on the amount of the immobilized
enzyme
The present example studied the influence of the polymer assisted immobilization on the
amount of the immobilized enzyme.
Fig. 16 shows the addition of the polymer V.S. the amount of the immobilized
acetylcholinesterase (n=3) during immobilizaion. As shown in Fig. 16, five polymers that are
conventionally used in immobilization were chosen (namely, glutaric dialdehyde, gelatin, chitosan,
polyethylene glycol and PDDA (poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride)). According to the prior
literatures, acetylcholinesterase is generally mixed with the polymer solution and then coated
dropwise onto the surface of the electrodes, and dried, which is then used in detecting the enzyrne
activity by an electrochemical method. However, the amount of the actually immobilized enzyme is
rarely reported in the literatures. Moreover, since those polymers have a certain solubility in water,
a part of the enzyme immobilized on the electrode surface may be re-dissolved during the
electrochemical measurement, which will negatively influence the accuracy of the measurement.
As reported in the literature, 1 wt.% PDDA, 1 wt.% polyethylene glycol, 1 wt.% chitosan, 1
wt.% gelatin, and 5 wt.% glutaric dialdehyde were mixed, respectively, with 400 pL of 9.225 gL
aqueous magnetic nanoparticle solution, and then isolated by centrifugation after an ultrasound for
20 mins to obtain magnetic nanoparticles with their surface being modified with polymer. 1 ml of
1UImL acetylcholinesterase was then added, and an enzyme immobilization was kept at a
temperature of 243°C for 20 hours. The free acetylcholinesterase that was not immobilized onto the
surface of the magnetic nanoparticles was then removed by centrifugation. Another 4 ml of PBS
solution (pH=7.4) was added. After washing and centrifugation, the final acetylcholinesterase
immobilized magnetic nanoparticles were stored in 2 ml of deionized water at a store temperature
of 2-8°C.
Fig. 16 gives the amount of the immobilized acetylcholinesterase assisted by the above five
polymers. It can be seen that the amount of the immobilized acetylcholinesterase remarkably
decreased after the surface was modified by the polymers, with the highest irnrnbolization amount
of only 66.8 Ulg (PDDA), far lower than the immobilization amount without modification with the
polymers. In addition, we have found that as PDDA has a quaternary ammonium salt structure
similar to the acetylcholinesterase substrate, i.e. acetylcholine (ACh) (interacting with the catalytic
active center of acetylcholinesterase), the introduction of PDDA may cause the reduction of the
enzymatic activity, as shown in Fig. 17.
Example 6: Influence of the solvent system on the amount of the immbolized enzyme
The present example studied the influence of the solvent system on the amount of the
irnrnbolized enzyme.
In this study, it is found that the categories of the solvents used for the magnetic nanoparticle
and acetylcholinesterase may also influence the amount of the immbolized enzyme. Since the
solution of the magnetic nanoparticles are actually of colloid, the introduction of electrolytes (such
as PBS) may result in the coagulation of the magnetic nanoparticles. The coagulation will reduce the
contacting area between the magnetic nanoparticles and acetylcholinesterase, and thereby reduce the
amount of the enzyme immbolized on the surface of magnetic nanoparticles. Here, we have
investigated four kinds of solvent systems:
1. dissolving the magnetic nanoparticles in deionized water - dissolving acetylcholinesterase in
deionized water;
2. dissolving the magneticnanoparticles in deionized water - dissolving acetylcholinesterase in
phosphate buffer solution;
3. dissolving the magnetic nanoparticles in phosphate buffer solution - dissolving
acetylcholinesterase in deionized water;
4. dissolving the magnetic nanoparticles in phosphate buffer solution - dissolving
acetylcholinesterase in phosphate buffer solution.
All the above four acetylcholinesterase solutions contain l a BSA (bovine serum albumin) as
a stabilizer for acetylcholinesterase.
Fig. 18 shows the influence of the solvent system on the amount of the immobilized
acetylcholinesterase (n=3). As shown in Fig. 18, the phosphate buffer solution of
acetylcholinesterase contributes to the immboliztion of acetylcholinesterase onto the surface of
magnetic nanoparticles (Samples 2 and 4), while the immobilization amount of sample 4 was only
around 50% of that of sample 2 due to the coagulation of magnetic nanoparticles caused by PBS.
The present example further investigates the influence of the addition of BSA on the amount of
the immobilized acetylcholinesterase, with the exrnperirnental results shown in Fig. 19. In the case
that the deionized water @I water) solution of acetylcholinesterase used to immobilize the enzyme
is fiee of BSA, acetylcholinesterase fails to be immobilized onto the surface of the magnetic
nanoparticles whether the magnetic nanoparticles are dissolved in deionized water or PBS, which
indicates that the introduction of BSA not only functions as stabilizing the acetylcholinesterase, but
also promotes the immobliztion of the acetylcholinesterase onto magnetic nanoparticles.
Example 7: Stability of immobilized acetylcholinesterase and DTNB
The stability of immobilized AChE was analyzed by measuring the activity of AChE every day.
The stability of immobilized AChE stored at room temperature is comparable or even higher than
h e free AChE stored at 4'C, as shown in Fig. 9. Compared to the stability of free AChE stored at
room temperature in 15 days, MNPs can enhance the stability of immobilized AChE. The Ellman's
reagent, DTNB, also undergoes a photolysis when exposed to sun light, as shown in Fig. 10. But
fortunately, the decomposition of DTNB was not found if it was stored at a dark place, even if at a
high temperature (around 40°C outdoors in the noon). The good stability of immobilized AChE and
DTNB provide us an opportunity to design a pesticide sensor with a long lifespan.
Example 8: Measurement of the UV-vis spectrum for acetylcholinesterase
In a general measurement, a solution of 4 ml PBS, 1 ml DTNB (1 mM) and 125 pl
acetylcholinesterase-immobilized magnetic nanoparticles solution were mixed in a 25 ml plastic
bottle. 3 pl ATCh was then added into the bottle and shaked to be homogeneous, and transferred to
a cuvette. After the air bubbles were removed by an ultrasound treatment, the reaction solution was
immediately (timing at the beginning of adding ATCh, the duration less than 50 seconds) transferred
into the spectrometer.
Example 9: Inhibition of pesticide on acetylcholinesterase
The present example provides the inihibition curve of pesticide to acetylcholinesterase, which
illustrates the experimental procedure to obtain the curve and the normalized activity % at different
concentrations of the immobilized enzyme.
1. Plotting the inhibition curve of pesticide V.S. acetylcholinesterase
0.25 ml of 1.93 g/L acetylcholinesterase immobilized magnetic nanoparticles solution (with the
immobilization amount of 283 Ulg) was added to 1 ml aqueous Isoprocarb (methylethyl phenol
methylcarbarnate, a k i d of carbarnate) solution having various concentrations, with the enzyme
inhibition time of 40 mins (the experimental parameters were not optimized at the beginning,
thereby the enzyme inhibition time was suitably extended to ensure the reaction equilibrium; the late
phase of enzyme inhibition can be controlled within 10 min, as shown in Fig. 25). The
acetylcholinesterase enzyme in the pesticide solution was then collected by a magnetic field using a
quartz ampoule with micro magnet inside, as shown in Fig. 24. Within 60 seconds, the
acetylcholinesterase enzyme in the pesticide solution (signal source) could be substantially
collected, as the colour change of the solution fiom khaki to colourless shows (low concentration of
aqueous magnetic nanoparticles solution appears khaki). After the magnet was removed fiom the
quartz ampoule, acetylcholinesterase immobilized magnetic nanoparticles remained on the surface
of the quartz ampoule. The magnetic nanoparticles on the surface can be easily re-dispersed into a
solution as long as the quartz ampoule is inserted into a DTNB solution due to the water solubility
of the magnetic nanoparticles, so as to facilitate the detection of the activity of the
acetylcholinesterase immobilized on the surface.
2. The normalized activity of the immobilized enzyme at various concentrations can be
obtained as follows:
In order to clearly and directly reflect the inhibition effect of the pesticide to the
acetylcholinesterase activity, the acetylcholinesterase activity detected without pesticide was
defined as 100%. The other points were normalized based on the acetylcholinesterase activity at the
pesticide concentration of 0, thereby providing Fig. 12.
Example 10: Optimization of the parameters in inhibition experiments
In order to further shorten the time of the enzyme inhibition reaction and thereby make a fast
detection, the experimental parameters for the inhibition of pesticide on enzyme were optimized in
the example. It has been found in the research that, at a certain concentration of pesticide, the
reaction speed of inhibiting acetylcholinesterase is closely related to the temperature. If the
temperature of the enzyme inhibition reaction is suitably increased, the enzyme inhibition reaction
can reach an equilibirium within 10 minutes (at 40°C, as shown in Fig. 25). It only takes about 3
minutes to reach 50% of the inhibition reaction at equilibirium at 40°C for 200 pg/L of Isoprocarb.
By collecting acetylcholine esters using the magnetic nanoparticles, the signal strength of the
detection is remarkably enhanced, which means that the enzyme inhibition reaction can be detected
before reaching an equilibirum, thereby eventually realizing a fast detection of the pesticide residue
level. Furthermore, it can also be seen fiom the research that if the temperature of the enzyme
inhibition reaction exceeds 60°C, the configuration of acetylcholinesterase will change, resulting in
a complete loss of the catalytic activity to the subtrate. Therefore, the temperature of the enzyme
31
inhibition reaction should be adjusted to 0-60°C.
In Fig. 25, the concentration of Isoprocarb was 200 pgiL, and the concentration of
acetylcholinesterase was 0.2 Ulml.
Example 11: Pesticide detection using acetylcholinesterase immobilized magnetic
nanoparticles
The present example provides an embodiment of pesticide detection using acetylcholinesterase
immobilized magnetic nanoparticles.
A 0.25 ml solution of acetylcholinesterase immobilized magnetic nanoparticles was added to a
solution of a sample containing pesticide, and incubated for 40 mins. The acetylcholinesterase
immobilized magnetic nanoparticles were then collected by a small magnet covered with a glass
tube. Within 100 seconds, almost all acetylcholinesterase immobilized magnetic nanoparticles can
be collected. After the removal of the magnet from the glass tube, the acetylcholinesterase
immobilized magnetic nanoparticles could be re-dispersed into a solution containing 4 ml PBS
@H=7.4) and 1 ml DTNB. After the addition of ATCh, the speed of the absorbance change was
detected around 412 nm with a UV-vis spectrometer.
Example 12: Influence of the pH value at detection on the stability of acetylcholinesterase
The present example studied the influence of the pH value at detection on the stability of
acetylcholinesterase.
Fig. 15 shows the influence of the pH value of acetylcholinesterase (in a free state, without
being immobilized on the surface of magnetic nanoparticles) on activity at detection. Fig. 15(a)
shows the absorbance change at 412 nm at different pH values, wherein the slope of UV-vis
spectrometry spectrum curve changing with the pH value reflects the enzymatic activity changing
with the pH value; Fig. 15(b) shows the result after a normalization based on the highest point (at
pH=9) of the enzymatic activity varying from pH 2 to pH 10, wherein it is found during the detection
that DTNB will spontaneously and quickly decompose in a strong basic circumstance at a pH of 1 1,
even no enzyme is added. Therefore, the total apparent activity is enhanced. However, if the
influence imposed by the high pH value is excluded, the actual activity of the enzyme is slightly
decreased as compared with that at a pH = 10.
32
Fig. 8 (b) shows the influence of the pH value of the detection system added with 125 p1 of
acetylcholinesterase (1 Ulml) solution on the activity of acetylcholinesterase. The results show that
the slope (K) of the UV-vis spectrum increases as the pH value increases, as shown in Fig. 8 (b). A
larger K value may increase the signal-noise ratio, and also shorten the detection time. However, the
pesticide tends to hydrolyze if the pH value exceeds pH 8. In order to avoid the hydrolysis of the
pesticide, we chose a pH value of 8 in the present invention.
Example 13: the influence of the volume of acetylcholinesterase added at detection on the
response time
The present example studied the influence of the volume of acetylcholinesterase added at
detection on the response time.
In practice, we need the pesticide sensor not only with high sensitivity and long stability, but also
with a fast response. To achieve a fast detection, the detection system based on h e AChE has been
optimized. The first parameter optimized was the volume of AChE (1 Ulml) added to PBS (pH=7.4)
in detection, as shown in Fig. 8a. When the volume of AChE was only 25 &, the hydrolyzation under
the catalysis of AChE started at 7 min after the ATCh adding. With the increase of ACE added, the
initial reaction time decreased and when the volume of AChE was up to 125 &, the hydrolyzation
started immediately after the ATCh adding. Further increasing the amount of AChE did not shorten the
reaction time, whereas the more AChE added, the more ATCh consumed to make sure that the
hydrolysis rate of ATCh is determined by the AChE concentration. Considering the cost issue, 125 p1
of AChE (1 Ulml) solution or the equivalent, 125 mu ACE, was employed in each detection.
Example 14: Experimental results of pesticide detection
The present example provides experimental results of pesticide detection by
acetylcholinesterase-immobilized magnetic nanoparticles.
Five pesticides have been examined and three of them (Carbaryl, Isoprocarb and Malaxon) can
inhibit the activity of AChE, as shown in Fig. 11. Herein, we further analyzed the inhibition effect
vs. the concentration of carbaryl. Results show that the inhibition of AChE-immobilized MNPs has
a good linearity with the concentration of carbaryl in the range from 50 (or even lower) to 200 pgL,
as shown in Fig. 12. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the maximum residue
' limit of carbaryl is 100 pg/L, which can be easily detected.
Example 15: A portable pen-like detector for pesticide detection
The present example provides a portable pen-like detector for pesticide detection, comprising
the following elements:
a battery (1) for providing electricity to chips (2) and (1 1);
a chip (2) which is connected to a light emitting diode (8) and controls it for providing light
source required by the spectrum detection;
a button (3), connected to the container (5) for controlling the addition of DTN3;
a button (4), connected to the container (6) for controlling the addition of ATCh;
a container (9, connected to the cuvette (9) under a control of button (3) for the addition and
storage of DTNB;
a container (6), connected the cuvette (9) under a control of button (4) for the addition and
storage of ATCh;
a liquid crystal screen (7), connected to the data process chip (1 1) for displaying the detection
results;
a light emitting diode (8) as a luminescent element which is controlled by the chip (2) for
providing a wavelength (390-430 nm, with 412 nm optimal) required by the spectrum detection;
a cuvette (9) for inserting into the magnet device(l4) and adding DTNB and ATCh, so as to
perform the spectrum detection in the cuvette (9);
a photoelectric conversion device (10) connected to the chip (1 1) for converting the collected
optical signal to electrical signal;
a chip (1 1) connected to the photoelectric conversion device (1 0) and the liquid crystal screen (7)
for processing and transferring data,
a button (12) connected to the container (13) for controlling the release of the
acetylcholinesterase-immoblized magnetic nanoparticles solution;
a container (13), which is controlled by the button (12) for adding and storing the
acetylcholinesterase immobilized magnetic nanoparticles solution;
a magnet device (14), comprising a casing (14a) made of glass or polytetrafluoroethylene and an
inside magnet (14b), wherein the magnet device(l4) can be taken out of the detector for collecting and
transfening the magnetic nanoparticles and can be inserted into the cuvette (9) for the spectrum detection.
Example 16: Use of the detector in Example 15 for detecting pesticide
The present example illustrates the operation procedure of pesticide detection using the
detector in Example 15.
Button 12 was pressed, and acetylcholinesterase imrnbolized magnetic nanoparticles solution was
dropped onto the surface of the vegetable to be detected with an area of approximately 0.5 cm2. 3
minutes later, magnet 14 (jacketed with glass or polytetrafluoroethylene) was used to collect the
magnetic nanoparticles in the liquid drops for a collection time of approximately 30 s. Then the magnet
14 was inserted into the microcuvette 9 followed by removing the permanent magnet inside 14,
pressing the button 3, and washing the surface. DTNB and acetylcholinesterase-magnetic
nanoparticles were transferred to the cuvette 9. After connecting to the electricity, when the readings
on the LCD became stable, pressing the button 4 to add ATCh into the cuvette. The speed of the color
change in the cuvette was processed by the chip 1 1, and one minute later, the concentration @dm2) of
the pesticide on the vegetable surface was directly displayed on the LCD 7.
The invention provides a novel pesticide detection method and a new detection device involving
acetylcholinesterase-immobilized nanoparticles. Those soluble magnetic nanoparticles work as an
acetylcholinesterase carrier in detection, which can be easily collected by a magnet or removed by
water. The high stability and good response of immobilized AChE on MNPs establish a solid basis
for the design of a pesticide sensor with high sensitive and fast response.
Although the invention are illustrated and described with the reference to the specific examples
according to the invention, an ordinary skilled in the art would understand that any modification of
various forms can be made to the invention without departing the spirit and scope of the invention
and the attached claims.
CLAIMS
1. A method for pesticide detection, comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a sample to be detected;
(b) preparing magnetic nanoparticles, and contacting cholinesterase with the magnetic
nanoparticles to obtain cholinesterase-immbolilized magnetic nanoparticles;
(c) adding the cholinesterase-immbolilized magnetic nanoparticles obtained in step (b) to the
sample to be detected of step (a), and incubating;
(d) collecting the magnetic nanoparticles by a magnetic field; and
(e) removing the magnetic field,
dispersing the collected magnetic nanoparticles in an enzymatic activity detection system,
dectecting the enzymatic activity of cholinesterase, and
determining the presence or the content of the pesticide based on the enzymatic activity.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the pesticide is a chemically synthesized pesticide.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the pesticide is selected from the group consisting of:
organophosphates pesticides, carbamates pesticides, organic nitrogens pesticides, pyrethroids pesticides,
organochlorines pesticides and organoflurines pesticides.
4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the organophosphates pesticide is selected fi-om
the group consisting of: phosphates, monothiophosphates, dithiophosphates, phosphonates,
phosphoamides, thiophosphoamides, and pyrophosphates.
5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the organophosphates pesticide is sleeted from:
glyphosate, dimethoate and Malaoxon.
6. The method according to claim 3, wherein the carbamates pesticide is selected from the
group consisting of: N-methylcarbamates and dimethylcarbamates.
7. The method according to claim 3, wherein the carbamates pesticide is selected from Carbaryl and
Isoprocarb.
8. The method according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the magnetic nanoparticles is prepared
by a method selected from the group consisting of: a wet chemistry method, a chemistry vapor
method and a physical method.
36
9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the wet chemistry method is selected from a
precipitation method, a sol-gel method, a microemulsion and inverse microemulsion method, a
hydrothermal method and a polyol reduction method; the chemistry vapor method is selected from
a chemical vapor deposition, a chemical vapor condensation and a plasma evaporation method; and
the physical process is selected from an evaporation condensation method and a magnetron
sputtering method.
10. The method according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the magnetic nanoparticle is seleted
from the magnetic nanoparticles of alloy, ferrite and / or intermetallic compound.
11. The method according to any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the magnetic nanoparticle is
magnetic nanoparticles containing iron, cobalt, nickel or the alloy thereof, preferably Fe304
nanoparticles.
12. The method according to any of claims 1 to 11, wherein the surface of the magnetic
nanoparticle comprises polar group, preferably citrate or hydroxyl group.
13. The method according to any of claims 1 to 12, wherein the cholinesterase is selected from
the group consisting of: acetylcholinesterase, propionylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase.
14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the acetylcholinesterase is obtained from a
source selected from the group consisting of: microorganism, plants and animals, preferably electric
eels or electric skates.
15. The method according to any of claims 1 to 14, fiirther comprising a step of calibrating the
magnetic nanoparticles, preferably by a standard curve, prior to step (b).
16. The method according to any of claims 1 to 15, fiirther comprising a step of calibrating
concentration of cholinesterase, preferably by a standard curve, prior to step (b).
17. The method according to any of claims 1 to 16, fiirther comprising a step of washing the
magnetic nanoparticles, preferably using deionized water, for 1-5 times, more preferably for 4 times,
prior to step (b).
18. The method according to any of claims 1 to 17, wherein the immobilization of
cholinesterase onto magnetic nanoparticles in step (b) is carried out by a method selected from the
group consisting of: adsorption method, chemical crosslinking method, covalent linking method,
physical embedding method, elecfrochemical polymerization method and molecular self-assembly
method.
37
19. The method according to any of claims 1 to 18, wherein the immobilization of
cholinesterase onto magnetic nanoparticles in step (b) is carried out under a condition of pH 6-8,
preferably pH 7.
20. The method according to any of claims 1 to 19, wherein during the immobilization of
cholinesterase onto magnetic nanoparticles in step (b), cholinesterase and the magnetic
nanoparticles are added in a ratio of 20~330:1 U/g, preferably 125~320:1 U/g, more preferably
250-310:1 U/g, more preferably 280:1 U/g.
21. The method according to any of claims 1 to 20, wherein the immobilization of
cholinesterase onto magnetic nanoparticles in step (b) is carried out as follows:
(A) dispersing the magnetic nanoparticles in deionized water or a phophate buffered solution;
(B) dissolving cholinesterase in deionized water or a phophate buffered solution containing
bovine serum albimiin (BSA); and
(C) contacting the magnetic nanoparticles solution with the cholinesterase solution.
22. The method according to any of claims 1 to 21, wherein the immobilization of
cholinesterase onto magnetic nanoparticles in step (b) is carried out as follows:
(a) dispersing the magnetic nanoparticles in deionized water;
(b) dissolving cholinesterase in a phophate buffered solution containing bovine serum albumin
(BSA); and
(c) contacting the magnetic nanoparticles solution with the cholinesterase solution.
23. The method according to any of claims 21 to 22, wherein the concentration of the magnetic
nanoparticles solution is 0.1-10 g/L, preferably 0.5-5 g/L, more preferably 1-3 g/L, more preferably
approximately 2 g/L.
24. The method according to any of claims 21 to 22, wherein the concentration of cholinesterase
solution is 0.1-10 U/ml, preferably 0.5-2 U/ml, more preferably 1 U/ml.
25. The method according to any of claims 21 to 22, wherein the concentration of bovine serum
albumin in phosphate buffered solution is 0.1-5 g/L, preferably 0.5-2 g/L, more preferably 0.8-1.2
g/L, more preferably 1 g/L,
26. The method according to any of claims 1 to 25, wherein 0.05-1 ml, preferably 0.1-0.5 ml,
more preferably 0.25 ml of cholinesterase-immbolilized magnetic nanoparticles solution is added
into the sample to be detected in step (c).
38
27. The method according to any of claims 1 to 26, wherein, in step (c), the sample to be
detected and the cholinesterase-immbolilized magnetic nanoparticles are incubated at a temperature
of 0-60°C, preferably 20-50*'C, more preferably 40°C for 2 minutes - 2 hours, preferably 20 minutes
-1 hour, more preferably 40 minutes.
28. The method according to any of claims 1 to 27, wherein the magnetic nanoparticles are
collected by a magnet coated with an outer layer in step (d).
29. The method according to claim 28, wherein the diameter of the magnet is approximately
2-10 mm, preferably 3-8 mm, more preferably 4 mm.
30. The method according to any of claims 1 to 29, wherein the step (d) is performed for 1-10
minutes, preferably 1-5 minutes, more preferably 100 seconds.
31. The method according to any of claims 1 to 30, wherein at least 60%, preferably at least
80%, more preferably at least 90%, more preferably substantially 100% of the magnetic
nanoparticles are coUeced in step (d).
32. The method according to any of claims 1 to 31, wherein the enzymatic activity detection
system in step (e) has a pH value of 2-11, preferably 6-10, more preferably 7-9.
33. The method according to any of claims 1 to 32, wherein the detection of the enzymatic
activity of cholinesterase in step (e) is performed by a pH value measurement method, an
electrochemistry method or a spectrophotometry method, preferably by the spectrophotometry
method.
34. The method according to claim 33, wherein, in step (e), 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid)
(DTNB) and thiocholine (TCh) are added for detecting the enzymatic activity of cholinesterase by the
spectrophotometry method.
35. The method according to claim 34, wherein the spectrophotometry method is used to
determine the speed of absorbency change; the higher speed of absorbency change indicates a higher
enzymatic activity, whereas the lower speed of absorbency change indicates a lower enzymatic
activity.
36. The method according to any of claims 1 to 35, wherein the higher enzymatic activity
determined in step (e) indicates a smaller amount of pesticide contained in the sample to be detected,
whereas the lower enzymatic activity determined in step (e) indicates a larger amoimt of pesticide
contained in the sample to be detected.
39
37. A portable detector for pesticide detection, comprising: a power supply system, a storage
system, a control system, and a determination and analysis system.
38. The detector according to claim 37, wherein the power supply system is a battery (1), which
is used for supply electricity to other systems of the detector.
39. The detector according to any of claims 37-38, wherein the storage system comprises a
DTNB container (5), a thiocholine container (6), a magnetic nanoparticle solution container (13),
and a magnet device (14) provided with a magnet for collecting and transferring the magnetic
nanoparticles.
40. The detector according to claim 39, wherein the magnet device (14) comprises a casing
(14a) and an inside magnet (14b), wherein the inside magnet (14b) is removable from the casing
(14a).
41. The detector according to claim 40, wherein the casing (14a) is made of glass or
polytetrafluoroethylene.
42. The detector according to any of claims 37-41, wherein the control system comprises a
button (3) connected to the DTNB container (5) for controlling the addition of DTNB, a button (4)
connected to the thiocholine container (6) for controlling the addition of cholinesterase, and a button
(12) for controlling the release of the cholinesterase-immbolilized magnetic nanoparticles solution.
43. The detector according to any of claims 37-42, wherein the determination and analysis
system comprises:
a light emitting diode (8) that provides the wavelength required by the spectrum detection;
a chip (2) cormected to the light emitting diode (8) for controlling the light emitting diode;
a cuvette (9) that conntected to the DTNB container (5) through the button (3), and connected
to thiocholine container (6) through the button (4), and into which the magnet can be inserted;
a photoelectric conversion device (10) for converting the collected optical signal to electrical
signal;
a liquid crystal screen (7) for displaying the detected results; and
a data processing chip (11) connected to the photoelectric conversion device (10) and the liquid
crystal screen (7), repectively.
44. The detector according to any of claims 37-43, wherein the detector is pen-like.
45. A method of pesticide detection using a detector as defined in any of claims 37 to 44,
40
comprising the steps of:
(a) pressing button (12), so that a solution of cholinesterase-immbolilized magnetic
nanoparticles is contacted with a sample to be detected;
(b) collecting the magnetic nanoparticles in the sample by a magnet device (14), inserting the
magnet device (14) into cuvette(9), and then removing the inside magnet (14b) from the magnet
device(14);
(c) pressing button (3), adding DTNB and the cholinesterase-immbolilized magnetic
nanoparticles on the casing (14a) of the magnet device(14) into the the cuvette (9);
(d) connecting to the electric supply, and pressing button (4) to add acetylthiocholine into the
cuvette after the reading on the liquid crystal display screen becomes stable; and
(e) determining the concentration of the pesticide in the sample according to the color change
speed of the cuvette by a determination and analysis system, and displaying on the iquid crystal display
screen (7).
46. The method according to claim 45, wherein step (a) is carried out for 1-5 minutes, preferably
3 minutes.
47. The method according to claim 45, wherein the collecting in step (b) is carried out for 10-60
seconds, preferably 30 seconds.
48. A use of a detector according to any of claims 37 to 44 for pesticide detection.
Dated this 11/1/2012