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Paper-Based Enzymatic Colorimetric Assay for Rapid Malathion Detection

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Abstract

Due to their unique properties, paper-based biosensors have attracted attention as inexpensive devices for on-site analysis. To achieve fast and sensitive detection of analytes, immobilization of enzymes with high apparent activities on paper is highly desirable; however, this is challenging. Herein, we report an improved approach to attach a malathion degrading enzyme, PoOPHM9, on paper via an interlocking network of Pluronic F127 (PF127)–poly(acrylic acid)–enzyme conjugates. The addition of PF127 improved retention of enzymatic activity as the apparent kinetic constant Vmax of the immobilized enzyme increased two-fold compared with the paper prepared without PF127. The PF127–poly(acrylic acid)–PoOPHM9 papers provided rapid colorimetric detection of malathion at 0.1–50 mM. The detection was completed within 5 min using a smartphone and image analysis software. As a proof-of-concept, malathion-contaminated water, plant, and apple samples were analyzed with the papers successfully. This material is promising for on-site rapid analysis of malathion-contaminated samples.

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Funding

This work was financially sponsored by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2016YFA0204300), the Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai (18ZR1409900), and the Key Project of the Shanghai Science and Technology Committee (18DZ1112703).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China

    Jian-Hui Li

  2. State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237, China

    Xue-Lei Deng, Yu-Lian Zhao, Xiao-Yan Zhang & Yun-Peng Bai

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  1. Jian-Hui Li
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  2. Xue-Lei Deng
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  3. Yu-Lian Zhao
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  4. Xiao-Yan Zhang
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  5. Yun-Peng Bai
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Contributions

X.-Y. Zhang and Y.-P. Bai designed and instructed the experiments; J.-H. Li, X.-L. Deng, and Y.-L. Zhao performed the research experiments; J.-H. Li, X.-L. Deng, Y.-L. Zhao, X.-Y. Zhang, and Y.-P. Bai analyzed the data; J.-H. Li, X.-Y. Zhang, and Y.-P. Bai wrote the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Xiao-Yan Zhang or Yun-Peng Bai.

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Jian-Hui Li and Xue-Lei Deng contribute equally to this work.

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Li, JH., Deng, XL., Zhao, YL. et al. Paper-Based Enzymatic Colorimetric Assay for Rapid Malathion Detection. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 193, 2534–2546 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-021-03531-x

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