A Flexible Acetylcholinesterase-Modified Graphene for Chiral Pesticide Sensor

J Am Chem Soc. 2019 Sep 18;141(37):14643-14649. doi: 10.1021/jacs.9b05724. Epub 2019 Sep 5.

Abstract

Sensors based on graphene are promising devices for chemical and biological detection owing to their high sensitivity, biocompatibility, and low costs. However, for chiral recognition, which is very important in biological systems, graphene sensors remain unable to discriminate enantiomers. Here, using chiral pesticide molecules as an example, we realized a highly sensitive graphene chiral sensor by modification with acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Quantum chemical simulations indicate that the inhibition effect of the enantiomer on AChE was transferred to graphene, which allowed for the electrical detection of chiral molecules. Under an operating voltage of 1 V, the sensitivity of the device reached 0.34 μg/L and 0.32 μg/L for (+)/(-)-methamidophos, respectively, which is much higher than by circular dichroism (6.90 mg/L and 5.16 mg/L, respectively). Furthermore, real-time, rapid detection was realized by combining with smartphones and wireless transmission.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetylcholinesterase / chemistry*
  • Circular Dichroism
  • Graphite / chemistry*
  • Limit of Detection
  • Organothiophosphorus Compounds / analysis*
  • Pesticides / analysis*
  • Quantum Theory
  • Radio Waves
  • Smartphone
  • Stereoisomerism

Substances

  • Organothiophosphorus Compounds
  • Pesticides
  • Graphite
  • methamidophos
  • Acetylcholinesterase