Organophosphorus pesticides detection using acetylcholinesterase biosensor based on gold nanoparticles constructed by electroless plating on vertical nitrogen-doped single-walled carbon nanotubes

An acetylcholinesterase (AChE) biosensor was constructed based on gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using electroless plating on vertical nitrogen-doped single-walled carbon nanotubes (VNSWCNTs) for detecting organophosphorus pesticides (OPs). AChE was immobilised on AuNPs via Au–S bonding, and VNSWCNTs were produced by spontaneous chemical adsorption of NSWCNTs on gold electrode, also via Au–S bonding. This modified electrode exhibited excellent electron transfer capacity due to the synergy between AuNPs and VNSWCNTs. The developed biosensor showed good linear relations at concentrations of 10^?5 – 1 ppb, and the detection limits were 3.04 × 10^?6 ppb for methyl parathion, 1.96 × 10^?6 ppb for malathion and 2.06 × 10^?6 ppb for chlorpyrifos, respectively. The AChE biosensor revealed satisfactory stability, excellent sensitivity and good repeatability. These results suggest that this biosensor has good application prospects and can function as a sensitive device in OPs analysis.