Pesticide Biosensor Based on Coimmobilized Acetylcholinesterase and Butyrylcholinesterase

The detection of organophosphate and carbamate pesticides using amperometric biosensors based on immobilized cholinesterases (ChE) was investigated. If only one type of ChE was used for analysis, the sensitivities for some pesticides were not sufficient. We have prepared biosensors with immobilized acetylcholinesterase or butyrylcholinesterase and with both ChEs coimmobilized in the same enzyme layer. Both coimmobilized ChEs function simultaneously in the presence of acetylthiocholine and these biosensors exhibit high response to a wider group of pesticides compared with sensors containing only one type of ChE.