Acetylcholinesterase immobilized on magnetic beads for pesticides detection: application to olive oil analysis

Abstract

This work presents the development of bioassays and biosensors for the detection of insecticides widely used in the treatment of olive trees. The systems are based on the covalent immobilisation of acetylcholinesterase on magnetic microbeads using either colorimetry or amperometry as detection technique. The magnetic beads were immobilised on screen-printed electrodes or microtitration plates and tested using standard solutions and real samples. The developed devices showed good analytical performances with limits of detection much lower than the maximum residue limit tolerated by international regulations, as well as a good reproducibility and stability.

Keywords: electric eel acetylcholinesterase; magnetic microbeads; olive oil; organophosphorus insecticides.