Skip to main content
Advertisement
Browse Subject Areas
?

Click through the PLOS taxonomy to find articles in your field.

For more information about PLOS Subject Areas, click here.

  • Loading metrics

An efficient LSPR method to quantitatively detect dimethoate: Development, characterization and evaluation

  • Dongxian Li,

    Roles Data curation, Investigation, Writing – original draft

    Affiliations Department of Electrical Engineering, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China, Henan International Joint Laboratory of Laser Technology in Agriculture Sciences, Zhengzhou, China

  • Yanyan Zhang,

    Roles Data curation, Formal analysis, Methodology

    Affiliations Department of Electrical Engineering, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China, Henan International Joint Laboratory of Laser Technology in Agriculture Sciences, Zhengzhou, China

  • Qingqian Guo,

    Roles Data curation, Software, Visualization

    Affiliations Department of Electrical Engineering, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China, Henan International Joint Laboratory of Laser Technology in Agriculture Sciences, Zhengzhou, China

  • Xiaoquan Sun,

    Roles Conceptualization, Investigation, Methodology

    Affiliation Henan Institute of Metrology, Zhengzhou, China

  • Hao Zhang,

    Roles Formal analysis, Methodology, Writing – review & editing

    Affiliations Department of Electrical Engineering, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China, Henan International Joint Laboratory of Laser Technology in Agriculture Sciences, Zhengzhou, China

  • Shun Wang,

    Roles Conceptualization, Data curation, Validation

    Affiliation College of Science, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China

  • Zephania Birech,

    Roles Validation, Visualization, Writing – review & editing

    Affiliation Department of Physics, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya

  • Jiandong Hu

    Roles Conceptualization, Investigation, Project administration, Supervision, Writing – review & editing

    jdhu@henau.edu.cn

    Affiliations Department of Electrical Engineering, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China, Henan International Joint Laboratory of Laser Technology in Agriculture Sciences, Zhengzhou, China, State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Zhengzhou, China

Abstract

In recent years, there has been growing concern among consumers about pesticide contamination in fruits. Therefore, rapid, reliable, and consistent detection methods for OPPs, especially dimethoate, are crucially needed. The existing quantitative methods for detecting dimethoate are not suitable for rapid measuring system such as the dimethoate samples from two channels. Hence this paper examines the utilization of a dual-channel system for utilize the absorption variations of the Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance (LSPR) bands of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were investigate for detection of dimethoate. Under optimized conditions, the relationship between concentrations of dimethoate and absorbance ratios (A(520)/A(640)) was linearly found in the concentration range of 10–100 nM. Result from the experiment shows that both channels exhibit a linear correlation coefficient as high as 0.97 and a limit of detection (LOD) as low as 5.5 nM. This LSPR detection system was characterized by testing the dimethoate in apple samples and the recovery rates were found to be in the range of 85.90% to 107.37%. The proposed dual-channel LSPR system for detecting dimethoate creating a new approach for detecting organophosphate insecticide in agricultural fields. It could lay the foundation for designing a high-throughput analysis of the insecticides using a wavelength division multiplexing switch (WDMS).

Introduction

The applications of insecticides to suppress mole crickets are the most effective approaches to improve the production of field crop for a long time. However, prolonged and uncontrolled use of these insecticides results in their residues getting transported to areas away from where they were applied thus posing environmental, animal, and human health risks. Some amount of the applied pesticides can remain in the fields for a considerable length of time [13]. Pesticides are widely used in agriculture, and therefore have become a public concern. Reportedly, pesticide has been considered to be a worldwide pollution of agricultural due to its chemical contamination, especially in developing regions. China is the world’s largest producer and consumer of chemical pesticides [4]. According to statistics, the amount of chemical pesticides used per unit of cultivated land in China is about 2.5 to 5 times the world average, and the amount of pesticides actually used by farmers was estimated to be 2.8, 2.3 and 1.2 times the optimal level in cotton, rice and corn production respectively [5]. A wide variety of insecticide dimethoate 40% or 50% in emulsifiable concentration are available to the market. Because toxicity and the bioaccumulation effect, dimethoate is moderately toxic by ingestion, inhalation and dermal absorption. People with respiratory ailments, recent exposure to cholinesterase inhibitors, impaired cholinesterase production, or with liver malfunction may be at increased risk from exposure to dimethoate [68]. Dimethoate is one of the commonly used pesticides in the field of avocado, cereal, citrus, cotton, mango, peanut and pulse crops [9, 10]. Dimethoate (C5H12NO3PS2) is a colorless crystalline solid in its pure form and is soluble in chloroform, methylene chloride, benzene, toluene, alcohols, esters, ketones and partly in water [11]. It is therefore not surprising that rapid increase in the development of highly efficient methods of dimethoate characterization, quantification, and detection techniques has been seen. Traditional detection methods of dimethoate residues such as colorimetric method [12], immunoassay [13], chromatography [14], chromatography-mass spectrometry [15] and high-performance liquid chromatography coupled-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) [16, 17] have some limitations. These limitations include complicated and time-consuming sample pre-treatment processes, but also involve expensive instruments only operated by trained personnel. Obviously, those expensive instruments cannot be effectively implemented to establish a quick determination method of analytes in the field [18, 19].

Research into development of alternative devices or system has been on-going. Fluorescence spectroscopic method was reported by Nian et al. provided a sensitive solution for detecting organophosphorus pesticides where it inhibits Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and catalyzes the carbamide reaction with copper [20]. AChE is a type of enzyme with significant role in the nervous system. Liang et al. carried out synthesis of three haptens for the class-specific immunoassay of O-dimethyl organophosphorus pesticides [21]. Immunoassay has high sensitivity and specificity, but the preparation of antibodies is complicated and expensive technique [22]. Although LC-MS/MS has high accuracy and sensitivity, the instruments are expensive and bulky. Therefore, a rapid detection method with high specificity and sensitivity for detecting dimethoate on-sites is urgently needed. Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance (LSPR) [23] is a phenomenon that increase the utilization of biosensing field due to its potential application in trace molecule and label free detection. Noble metal nanomaterials with strong LSPR characteristics have become an effective and rapid tool for the detection of pesticide residues with high sensitivity, high selectivity and low interference [24]. Compared with Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) for the detection of pesticide residues, Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance (LSPR) of metallic nanoparticles is advance technique for biosensing due to its stable LSPR signals from the easily fabricated metal nanoparticles. In order to improve the repeatability and sensitivity of active substrates for the LSPR detection, researchers have used different nanostructured metal particles [25, 26]. Du et al. prepared a polymer film in which silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was synthesized to detect dimethoate [27]. The experimental results showed that the LSPR peak responses were proportional to the concentrations of dimethoate in the range of 1.0–1000 ng/mL and even in the range of 1.0–50 ng/mL with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.5 ng/mL. Bai et al. put aptamers to detect organophosphorus pesticides indirectly due to these stable compounds coated with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in salt solution [28]. By adding dimethoate, the aptamers were separated from AuNPs surface and the AuNPs were aggregated. Correspondingly, the color of the solution was changed from red to purple blue. The recovery rate of 72%-135% was achieved. However, the number of works devoted to the rapid simultaneous multi-element determination of dimethoate with low cost is limited.

Here, we report a novel dual-channel LSPR technology for the quantification of the dimethoate based on an aggregation of AuNPs. Normally, the surface of the synthesized AuNPs carries negative charge and the color of the AuNPs solution is wine-red. The AuNPs were aggregated in the presence of NaOH and then the color was turned into grey-blue due to the electrostatic repulsion between the negative charges on the surface of AuNPs induced by the high concentration of NaOH. Dimethoate can be easily hydrolyzed under strong alkaline conditions and the hydrolyzed product carries negatively charges. Accordingly, the AuNPs were well-dispersed due to the hydrolyzed product with strong negative charges after adding NaOH to the mixed solution of dimethoate and AuNPs. This method was used to quantify dimethoate with good in-laboratory reproducibility, and the matrix effect was assessed from the dimethoate concentrations spiked in apple juice. Additionally, the identity of dimethoate was confirmed by electrochemical workstation and fluorescent hydrogel and Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS). These studies strongly support our envisages of high-throughput LSPR analysis of the insecticides using a wavelength division multiplexing switch (WDMS) in the future.

Materials and methods

Reagents

Dimethoate, hexachloro-cyclohexane soprocide, fenvalerate and ethoprophos were purchased from Aladdin Reagent Co. Ltd. (Shanghai, China). Tetrachloroauric (III) acid tetrahydrate (HAuCl4·4H2O) and trisodium citrate were acquired from Sigma-Aldrich (USA). NaOH and methanol were supplied by Sinopharm Chemical Reagent Co. Ltd. (Shanghai, China). Chemicals for analytical reagents grade were used without further purification. Milli-Q water was used in all sample solution throughout.

Fabrication of dual-channel LSPR system

Experimental realization.

The schematic diagram of the dual-channel LSPR system is shown in Fig 1a. This dual-channel LSPR system consists of a broadband light source (tungsten halogen lamp) with a spectral range of 200 to 1700 nm, two premium bifurcated optical fibers with SMA905 connectors, an Optical Fiber Dual Switch (OFDS) and a miniature spectrometer of USB 2000+ with a linear Charge Coupled Device (CCD) array (Optic Oceans). By manually adjusting OFDS, the spectral data from both channels were displayed graphically on the computer. The measured sample is poured into the cuvette embedded in the holder, the light beam from the tungsten halogen lamp is well-distributed by the beam splitter to travel through two different pathways named as channel 1 (Ch1) and channel 2 (Ch2) via optical fibers. The spectral signals coming out from the cuvette are time-division transferred by the optical switch and dispersed by the USB 2000+ spectrometer then the spectral signal of the measured sample is displayed on the computer.

thumbnail
Fig 1. Schematic illustrating the detection principle of dimethoate using the dual-channel LSPR system via optical fibers.

The dual channel LSPR device is shown in (a), detection principle inset (b).

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0239632.g001

The detection principle of dimethoate is illustrated in the inset Fig 1b. The surface of the synthesized AuNPs carries negative charge and the color of the AuNPs solution is wine-red. The AuNPs are well dispersed due to the electrostatic repulsion between citrate roots. After a known concentration of NaOH solution is added into the AuNPs solution, the AuNPs are aggregated and then the color turns into grey-blue due to the screening of the negative charges on the surface of gold nanoparticles by the high concentration of NaOH. Obviously, a high concentration of NaOH can make the AuNPs aggregate quickly, but a low concentration of NaOH was not obvious and even could not be induced aggregation of the AuNPs. However, dimethoate is easily hydrolyzed under the strong alkali condition, resulting in the product carrying negative charges. Consequently, the phenomenon of anti-aggregation of AuNPs occurred due to the electric repulsion force between the negative charges of hydrolysate of dimethoate and the negative charges of the citrate radical. Therefore, by adding dimethoate with different concentrations into the solution formed by AuNPs and NaOH mixture, anti-aggregation of AuNPs is achieved at different degrees and the color of the mixture changes from blue to red.

Synthesis of the citrate-stabilized AuNPs.

The citrate-stabilized AuNPs with an average diameter of 13.5 nm were synthesized by sodium citrate reduction [29, 30]. Briefly, 25 mL of HAuCl4 aqueous solution (1 mM) was brought to boil for 2 min in a round-bottom flask. Then, quickly 2.5 mL of a 1% solution of sodium citrate (C6H5Na3O7·2H2O) was added into this solution and let it react for 5 min. After that, it was kept boiling for 10 min until the color of the solution turned into wine-red. The morphology and particle size of prepared AuNPs were characterized by a JEM-2100 high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) absorption spectrum of AuNPs was recorded by using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer (Nanjing Philes Instruments Co., Ltd., China). The citrate stabilized AuNPs with the concentration of 9.5 nM was obtained and stored at 4°C for further use.

Results and discussion

Preparation of measured solutions

For the rapid detection of dimethoate, 80 μL of dimethoate aqueous solutions at different concentrations of 10 nM, 30 nM, 50 nM, 80 nM and 100 nM were placed into a centrifuge tubes containing 535 μL of Milli-Q water, respectively. 35 μL of NaOH (1.5 M) was added into these tubes, the AuNPs solution were also added to the mixture, then after 10 min reaction, 330 μL of the mixture was transferred into a cuvette embedded inside the holder. The dimethoate detection was performed by the dual-channel LSPR system via optical fibers. The developed dual-channel LSPR system was applied in rapid detection of dimethoate in apples. The apples were cut into pieces and ground to form the apple juice. The juice was then centrifuged at a speed of 12000r/min for 10 min. The supernatant was sieved with a 0.22 μm filter. Afterwards, the ensured samples for performing these detection experiments were spiked with known concentration of dimethoate solutions.

Characterization of AuNPs

The dimethoate concentration used for the experiment was 0.1 μM. The morphology of AuNPs was characterized by a TEM. A typical TEM image of AuNPs and absorption spectrum measured by the UV-Vis spectrophotometer are presented in Fig 2. From Fig 2a, an absorption peak centered at 520 nm was obtained from the solution with dimethoate (the red curve). In this case, the AuNPs were still well dispersed in the mixture solution (the inset Fig 2c). This phenomenon resulted from repulsion between the negative charges possessed by the hydrolyzed product of dimethoate, an organophosphorus pesticide and the AuNPs. On the contrary, the measured solution without dimethoate not only have two absorption peaks at 520 nm and 640nm, respectively, but also the color of the AuNPs solution turns into blue due to the aggregated AuNPs (the inset Fig 2b). These experimental results displayed the potential application of the LSPR phenomenon in dimethoate detection.

thumbnail
Fig 2. The absorption spectra (a) and TEM images of the NaOH+AuNPs solutions with and without dimethoate (0.1 μM) (b and c).

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0239632.g002

Stability of the dual-channel LSPR system

AuNPs with the size of 13.5 nm were selected for this experiment. AuNPs solution with the concentration of 9.5 nM was diluted 5 times. 330 uL of the AuNPs solution was put into the cuvettes for 6 repeated measurement. The results of the absorption maximum at 520 nm were obtained from this dual-channel LSPR system (Table 1). From Table 1, the average error calculated from both channels has a slight difference. It confirmed the two samples can be measured in parallel after calibration curves are established.

Optimization of experimental conditions

Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) concentration plays a significant role in this experiment and directly affects the sensitivity of the results. A high concentration of NaOH can make the AuNPs aggregate quickly. Therefore, the concentrations of NaOH used in this research work were optimized accordingly. Obviously, the reaction time determined the stability of chemical reaction process and the accuracy of the experimental results. For the optimization of NaOH concentration, five different concentrations i.e. 0.8 M, 1.0 M, 1.2 M, 1.5 M and 2.0 M of NaOH were used, respectively. Firstly, 80 μL of dimethoate (0.1 μM) were added into a cuvette with 535 μL Milli-Q water. Then, 150 μL AuNPs was added into this solution mixture. Finally, 35 μL of NaOH with above different concentrations (0.8 M, 1.0 M, 1.2 M, 1.5 M and 2.0 M) was placed into the solutions. A plot of the ratio of the absorbance value of the mixture (NaOH and dimethoate) to that of pure NaOH at wavelength of 520 nm, A(520)/A0(520) versus NaOH concentration were done and displayed in Fig 3a respectively. It was observed that the ratio reached its maximum when the concentration of NaOH was 1.5 M. Therefore, 1.5 M of NaOH concentration was chosen as the optimized value. For determination of the optimum reaction time, 35 μL of NaOH (1.5M) and 80 μL dimethoate solution (0.1 μM) were mixed with 535 μL Milli-Q water and 150 μL AuNPs. The reactions were recorded at different time, such as 1 min, 3 min, 5 min, 8 min, 10 min, 13 min and 15 min. A plot of the ratio A(520)/A (640) versus reaction time was also done (Fig 3b). It was found that the absorbance ratio increased with increase in reaction time with a plateau being achieved after a reaction time of 10 min. This reaction time i.e. 10 min, was therefore, confirmed as the optimum reaction time.

thumbnail
Fig 3. Figure showing the optimization of NaOH concentration (a) and reaction time (b) for dimethoate detection.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0239632.g003

Quantitative detection of dimethoate using the dual-channel LSPR system

Under the optimized conditions described above, 80 μL of dimethoate with different concentrations was added into 535 μL Milli-Q water, 150 μL AuNPs was added into the mixture (solution), then 35 μL of NaOH was added and mixed thoroughly. After obtaining a homogenous mixture, it was left to react at room temperature for 10 min. Using the dual-channel fiber optic LSPR system and the SpectroSuite software, the absorption spectra were recorded with an exposure time of 3s per scan and an average of three scans. The spectral window of 400 nm to 800 nm and the boxcar smoothness window of 5 were used. A reference spectrum (chosen as the background) was measured after inserting a cuvette containing 330 μL of pure Milli-Q water into the holder of Ch1. The other cuvette with 330 μL of mixture (sample containing dimethoate) was put into the holder of Ch2 to detect the absorption separately. Each measurement were repeated three times and the average absorption spectrum of the solution plotted (Figs 4a and 5a). These results indicated that by increasing the concentration of dimethoate pesticide, the absorbance at 520 nm gradually increased while it gradually decreased at 640 nm. The color of the mixture (i.e. solution) changed from blue to red (Figs 4b and 5b). The results also shows that there were linear correlations between dimethoate concentrations and the absorbance ratio A(520)/A(640) in the concentration range of 10 nM to 100 nM. A linear correlation coefficient of 0.97 and a limit of detection (LOD) of 5.5 nM was obtained from the measurement results of Ch1, Ch2, which was determined by the formula 3σ/slope, where σ is the standard deviation of blank, i.e. the absorbance of pure AuNPs and slope can be obtained from the linear calibration curve [31] (the inset Fig 4a and inset Fig 5a). From these experiment results, there are certain systematic errors existed in both channels. These systematic errors were minimized by the calibration curves established from both channels to meet the detection requirements.

thumbnail
Fig 4. Quantitative detection of dimethoate using the Ch1 in the dual-channel LSPR system.

Absorption spectra (a), the inset calibration curve and color of the measured samples in vitals (b) with different concentrations of dimethoate in the range of 10–100 nM.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0239632.g004

thumbnail
Fig 5. Quantitative detection of dimethoate using the Ch2 in the dual-channel LSPR system.

Absorption spectra (a), the inset calibration curve and color of the measured samples in vitals (b) with different concentrations of dimethoate in the range of 10–100 nM.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0239632.g005

Specificity of the dual-channel LSPR system

The selectivity of the proposed method for dimethoate detection was also evaluated using several other non-target pesticides that included Hexachlorocyclohexane, Fenvalerate and Phonamiphos. A concentration of 0.5 μM of these non-target pesticides (e.g. Hexachlorocyclohexane, Fenvalerate, Phonamiphos) and 0.05 μM of dimethoate were respectively detected by this method. The results showed that the non-target pesticides could not be hydrolyzed by NaOH and the color of mixed solution turned blue quickly (Fig 6). However, the color of the AuNPs solution containing dimethoate was red rather than blue and the absorbance ratio of 3.138 were obtained, which was the highest among four pesticides. Clearly, these results showed that the method was highly sensitive for the detection of dimethoate pesticides. The anti-aggregation method based on AuNPs were highly selective for detecting organophosphorus pesticides, such as dimethoate, because most organophosphorus pesticides contain phosphate ions which could be hydrolyzed under strong alkali conditions. The molecular weight and structure of each organophosphorus pesticide were totally different, resulting in molar cross-section extinction coefficient differently. The LSPR response curves were specific to the structures of the organophosphorus pesticides.

thumbnail
Fig 6. Selectivity of the dimethoate (0.05 μM) detection compared to several other non-target pesticides (0.5 μM).

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0239632.g006

Detection of dimethoate in apple samples

To study the reliability and efficacy of this method in environmental samples, the apple samples were detected using both Ch1 and Ch2. Preparation of the apple samples involved the extraction of the juice, centrifuging for 10 min at 12000 r/min and finally filtered using a 0.22 μm filter. Dimethoate with different concentrations of 20 nM, 40 nM, and 90 nM were mixed separately with the apple juice. Consistent with the above-mentioned method, detection of dimethoate in apple juice was done using Ch1 in this LSPR system. The experimental recovery rates are given in Table 2. The actual detected concentrations in all three samples of Ch1 were calculated as 17.18 nM, 37.64 nM and 94.45 nM, respectively. The results showed that the detection recovery rate of dimethoate was 85.90% to 105.44% in the concentration ranged of 10 nM to 100 nM. The experimental results showed that Ch1 is feasible to be used to detect dimethoate in environmental samples. In Ch2, the actual detected concentrations were calculated as 18.58 nM, 42.15 nM and 96.63 nM. The detection recovery rates for this channel were between 92.90% to 107.37%, with a similar dimethoate concentration as in Ch1. The results showed that both channels were equally good in detecting dimethoate in apple samples.

thumbnail
Table 2. Experimental results of dimethoate detection recovery rates in apples.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0239632.t002

Comparison of this method with the existing methods

A comparative analysis between different other techniques and their efficiencies were displayed in Table 3. Absorbptionmetric method with AChE on gold nanorods is labor-intensive and low detection limit. Colorimetric with AgNPs method were detect rapidly and wide detection ranges. Electrochemical workstation with AChE method were highly reproducibility and very expensive. SERS method is identification effectively with high detection limit. Fluorescent hydrogel method is accuracy, stable and complex operation in the laboratory. It can be seen that the dual channel LSPR system demonstrated here has more advantages especially in terms of LOD, portability, dual detection and cost. The system has a great potential for being developed into a low cost and portable tool for the detection of dimethoate in the future. Both Ch1 and Ch2 in this LSPR system displayed good linear relationship between dimethoate concentration within the range 10–100 nM and the absorbance ratio A(520)/A(640) giving correlation coefficients (R2) of 0.97. Besides, they displayed detection limits of 5.5 nM.

thumbnail
Table 3. Comparison of the existing methods with our dual channel LSPR method.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0239632.t003

Conclusion

This study demonstrates high sensitivity, dual-channel LSPR system via optical fibers to detect dimethoate. The surface of the synthesized AuNPs carries negative charge uniformly under various concentrations and reaction times in the AuNPs solution. Using LSPR spectrum analysis, chemically NaOH and reaction time were optimized to detect dimethoate based on anti-aggregation. Subsequently, AuNPs were uniformly disperse into the solution via adding NaOH for 10 min to produce the final plasmon active background. A portable transmission-mode non-functionalized LSPR system was then produced by optical fibers connected to the cuvette cell with SMA connectors. The detection performance of the dual-channel LSPR system developed in this study was evaluated using apply juice as a real sample. Under these optimized conditions, the relationship between concentration of dimethoate and absorbance ratio (A(520) /A(640)) was obtained. The experimental results from Ch1 and Ch2 showed that there was a good linear relationship between concentration of dimethoate and the absorbance ratio (A(520) /A (640)) in the range of 10 nM to 100 nM dimethoate concentration with the linear correlation coefficient of 0.97 and the limit of detection (LOD) of 5.5 nM. The detection specificity and the recovery rate of this LSPR system were evaluated for various dimethoate concentrations in apple juice. It was found that detection recovery rates of this dimethoate LSPR system was obtained between 85.90% to 107.37%. Although there were slight differences in recovery rate between both channels, the calibration curves can be sued to reduce the error from structure of channel and obtain the reliable experimental results. The developed dual-channel LSPR system via optical fiber allows to fast detect the dimethoate and greatly improve the detection range of dimethoate. It could establish a novel approach to develop a high-throughput analysis of the insecticides using a wavelength division multiplexing switch (WDMS) in various fields such as medical diagnosis, environmental monitoring, and food safety.

References

  1. 1. Kirsch Jeffrey, Siltanen Christian, Zhou Qing, Revzin Alexander, Simonian Aleksandr. Biosensor technology: recent advances in threat agent detection and medicine. Chemical Society Reviews. 2013;42: 8733–8768. pmid:23852443
  2. 2. Fang Yanyan, Nie Zhiqiang, Yang Yanmei, Die Qingqi, Liu Feng, He Jie, et al. Human health risk assessment of pesticide residues in market-sold vegetables and fish in a northern metropolis of China. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 2015;22(8): 6135–6143. pmid:25395327
  3. 3. Liao Jing-Yu, Fan Chihhao, Huang Ya-Zhen, Jai-Chyi Pei Kurtis. Distribution of residual agricultural pesticides and their impact assessment on the survival of an endangered species. Journal of Hazardous Materials. 2020;389: 121871. pmid:31879098
  4. 4. Grung Merete, Lin Yan, Zhang Hua, Anne Orderdalen Steen Jun Huang, Zhang Gan, et al. Pesticide levels and environmental risk in aquatic environments in China—A review. Environment International. 2015;81: 87–97. pmid:25968893
  5. 5. Shengyang Sun, Ruifa Hu, Chao Zhang, Guanming Shi. Do farmers misuse pesticides in crop production in China? Evidence from a farm household survey. Pest Management Science. 2019;75(8). pmid:30632284
  6. 6. Steingrímsdóttir María Magnea Petersen Annette, Fantke Peter. A screening framework for pesticide substitution in agriculture. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2018;192.
  7. 7. Huang Fuyang, Li Zeyan, Zhang Chong, Habumugisha Théogène, Liu Fei, Luo Ximing. Pesticides in the typical agricultural groundwater in Songnen plain, northeast China: occurrence, spatial distribution and health risks. Environmental Geochemistry and Health. 2019;41(6). pmid:31129745
  8. 8. Wang Xiaoli, He Bin, Nie Jing, Yin Wei, Fa Huanbao, Chen Changguo. An enhanced oxime-based biomimetic electrochemical sensor modified with multifunctional AuNPs–Co3O4–NG composites for dimethoate determination. Research on Chemical Intermediates. 2018;44.
  9. 9. Lang Qiaolin, Han Lei, Hou Chuantao, Wang Fei, Liu Aihua. A sensitive acetylcholinesterase biosensor based on gold nanorods modified electrode for detection of organophosphate pesticide. Talanta. 2016;156–157: 34–41. pmid:27260432
  10. 10. Yang Yuqi, Mohamed Asiri Abdullah Du Dan, Lin Yuehe. Acetylcholinesterase biosensor based on a gold nanoparticle–polypyrrole–reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite modified electrode for the amperometric detection of organophosphorus pesticides. The Analyst. 2014;139(12): 3055–3060. pmid:24770670
  11. 11. Raghu P., Madhusudana Reddy T., Reddaiah K., Kumara Swamy B.E., Sreedhar M. Acetylcholinesterase based biosensor for monitoring of Malathion and Acephate in food samples: A voltammetric study. Food Chemistry. 2014;142: 188–196. pmid:24001830
  12. 12. Xie Yuanyang, Huang Yu, Tang Dongyun, Cui Hongliang, Cao Haiyan. A competitive colorimetric chloramphenicol assay based on the non-cross-linking deaggregation of gold nanoparticles coated with a polyadenine-modified aptamer. Mikrochimica Acta. 2018;185: 534. pmid:30406418
  13. 13. Cao Yong, McDermott Mark T. A surface plasmon resonance based inhibition immunoassay for measurement of steroid hormones. Analytical Biochemistry. 2018;557: 7–12. pmid:29964030
  14. 14. Farajzadeh Mir Ali, Afshar Mogaddam Mohammad Reza, Alizadeh Nabil Ali Akbar. Polyol-enhanced dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction coupled with gas chromatography and nitrogen phosphorous detection for the determination of organophosphorus pesticides from aqueous samples, fruit juices, and vegetables. Journal of Separation Science. 2015;38(23): 4086–4094. pmid:26420025
  15. 15. Santos C, Oppolzer D, Gonçalves A, Barroso M, Gallardo E. Determination of Organophosphorous Pesticides in Blood Using Microextraction in Packed Sorbent and Gas Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry. Journal of Analytical Toxicology. 2018;42(5): 321–329. pmid:29373695
  16. 16. Marques Graziany L.M., Siqueira Alciene A., Minassa Vitor S., Peres Mariana D., Pelição Fabrício S., Sampaio Karla N. Method validation for simultaneous determination of atropine, pralidoxime and 12 organophosphorus compounds in blood samples by means of high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Journal of Chromatography B. 2018;1097–1098: 44–53. pmid:30199749
  17. 17. Tu Yifan, Zhou Lei, Li Li, Wang Lu, Gao Song, Hu Ming. Development and validation of an LC-MS/MS method for the quantification of flavonoid glucuronides (wogonoside, baicalin, and apigenin-glucuronide) in the bile and blood samples: Application to a portal vein infusion study. Analytical Biochemistry. 2020;601: 113723. pmid:32298642
  18. 18. Li Xiaoqing, Zhao Hongli, Shi Libo, Zhu Xiang, Lan Minbo, Zhang Qian, et al. Electrochemical sensing of nicotine using screen-printed carbon electrodes modified with nitrogen-doped graphene sheets. Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry. 2017;784: 77–84.
  19. 19. Liu Hui, Guo Kai, Lv Jing, Gao Yuan, Duan Congyue, Deng Lu, et al. A novel nitrite biosensor based on the direct electrochemistry of horseradish peroxidase immobilized on porous Co3O4 nanosheets and reduced graphene oxide composite modified electrode. Sensors Actuators: B. Chemical. 2017;238: 249–256.
  20. 20. Huang Nian, Qin Yingfeng, Li Ming, Chen Tianxing, Lu Meijie, Zhao Jingjin. A sensitive fluorescence assay of organophosphorus pesticides using acetylcholinesterase and copper-catalyzed click chemistry. The Analyst. 2019;144: 3436–3441. pmid:31020297
  21. 21. Liang Ying, Liu Xianjin, Liu Yuan, Yu Xiangyang, Fan Mingtao. Synthesis of three haptens for the class-specific immunoassay of O, O-dimethyl organophosphorus pesticides and effect of hapten heterology on immunoassay sensitivity. Analytica Chimica Acta. 2008;615(2): 174–183. pmid:18442523
  22. 22. Tian Wei, Wang Lanteng, Lei Hongtao, Sun Yuanming, Xiao Zhili. Antibody production and application for immunoassay development of environmental hormones: a review. Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture. 2018;5(1): 5.
  23. 23. Prabhash P.G., Haritha V.S., Nair Swapna S., Pilankatta Rajendra. Localized surface plasmon resonance based highly sensitive room temperature pH sensor for detection and quantification of ammonia. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical. 2017;240: 580–585.
  24. 24. Doria Gonçalo, Conde João, Veigas Bruno, Giestas Leticia, Almeida Carina, Assunção Maria, et al. Noble Metal Nanoparticles for Biosensing Application. Sensors. 2012;12(2): 1657–1687. pmid:22438731
  25. 25. Li Dongxian, Wang Shun, Wang Ling, Zhang Hao, Hu Jiandong. A simple colorimetric probe based on anti-aggregation of AuNPs for rapid and sensitive detection of malathion in environmental samples. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry. 2019;411(12): 2645–2652. pmid:30877346
  26. 26. Wang Shun, Zhang Hao, Li Wei, Birech Zephania, Ma Liuzheng, Li Dongxian, et al. A multi-channel localized surface plasmon resonance system for absorptiometric determination of abscisic acid by using gold nanoparticles functionalized with a polyadenine-tailed aptamer. Mikrochimica Acta: Analytical Sciences Based on Micro- and Nanomaterials. 2019;187(36): 413–434. pmid:31807965
  27. 27. Du Dan, Chen Shizhen, Cai Jie, Tao Yuan, Tu Haiyang, Zhang Aidong. Recognition of dimethoate carried by bi-layer electrodeposition of silver nanoparticles and imprinted poly-o-phenylenediamine. Electrochimica Acta. 2008;53(22): 6589–6595.
  28. 28. Bai Wenhui, Zhu Chao, Liu Jinchuan, Yan Mengmeng, Yang Shuming, Chen Ailiang. Gold nanoparticle-based colorimetric aptasensor for rapid detection of six organophosphorous pesticides. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. 2015;34(10): 2244–2249. pmid:26031388
  29. 29. Aufaure Romain, Lalatonne Yoann, Lievre Nicole, Heintz Olivier, Motte Laurence, Guenin Erwann. One pot microwave assisted synthesis of bisphosphonate alkene capped gold nanoparticles. Rsc Advances. 2014;4(103): 59315–59322.
  30. 30. Wang Chengke, Chen Dan, Wang Qingqing, Tan Rong. Kanamycin detection based on the catalytic ability enhancement of gold nanoparticles. Biosensors and Bioelectronics. 2017;91: 262–267. pmid:28013021
  31. 31. Wang Shun, Li Wei, Chang Keke, Liu Juan, Guo Qingqian, Sun Haifeng, et al. Localized surface plasmon resonance-based abscisic acid biosensor using aptamer functionalized gold nanoparticles. PLos One. 2017;12(9): e0185530. pmid:28953934
  32. 32. Li Wen, Sun Ming, Li Minzan, Sun Hong. Rapid Detection of Trace Dimethoate Pesticide Residues Based on Colorimetric Spectroscopy. Spectroscopy and Spectral Analysis. 2015;35(7):2029–2033. pmid:26717773
  33. 33. Guan Huanan, Chi Defu, Yu Jia. Photoelectrochemical Acetylcholinesterase Biosensor Incorporating Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles. Advanced Materials Research. 2011;183–185: 1701–1706.
  34. 34. Tognaccini Lorenzo, Ricci Marilena, Gellini Cristina, Feis Alessandro, Smulevich Giulietta, Becucci Maurizio. Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy for In-Field Detection of Pesticides: A Test on Dimethoate Residues in Water and on Olive Leaves. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland). 2019; 24(2): 292. pmid:30650543
  35. 35. Kong Deshuai, Jin Rui, Wang Tianshuang, Li Hongxia, Yan Xu, Su Dandan, et al. Fluorescent hydrogel test kit coordination with smartphone: Robust performance for on-site dimethoate analysis. Biosensors and Bioelectronics. 2019;145: 111706. pmid:31546199