Electrochemical sensor for the detection of pesticides in environmental sample: A review

Abstract

Many of the pesticides are acutely toxic and have lasting effect on human health. The primary reason for organophosphate (OP) toxicity is its inhibition of the acetyl cholinesterase (AChE) enzyme. Significant work is reported on electrochemical sensors for OP detection and they have been proven as an inexpensive, simple and versatile analytical tool. They have found a vast range of important applications in the fields of clinical, industrial, environmental and agricultural analyses. Their sensitivity, reproducibility and specific selectivity towards target OP molecules can be improved by applying different coating materials at electrode surface. In this review focus is on the coating materials for the modification of working electrodes surface to use it widely as sensors for electroanalytical strategy for many sensing applications requiring highly compatible and properly functionalized surfaces to anchor the recognition material. Graphical Abstract: Schematic illustration of the stepwise AChE biosensor fabrication process and immobilized AChE inhibition in pesticide solution.