Picomolar glyphosate sensitivity of an optical particle-based sensor utilizing biomimetic interaction principles

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Analytical Chemistry
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Growing use of glyphosate raises health and biodiversity concerns.
• Need for rapid, cost-effective, on-site detection technologies for glyphosate in food and water.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a highly sensitive sensor for glyphosate detection.
• To leverage the specific interaction between glyphosate and its target enzyme, EPSPs.

Main Methods:

• Utilized an interferometric sensor based on the soft colloidal probe (SCP) technique.
• Immobilized EPSPs onto a surface using hydrophobin chimera.
• Analyzed glyphosate-induced changes in SCP-biochip interactions using reflection interference contrast microscopy and automated image analysis.

Main Results:

• Achieved pM sensitivity for glyphosate detection (down to 100 pM).
• Demonstrated superior discrimination against structurally related compounds.
• Optimized sensor sensitivity by adjusting linker length and glyphosate coupling position.

Conclusions:

• The developed SCP-based sensor offers a highly sensitive and specific method for glyphosate detection.
• This technology holds promise for on-site monitoring of glyphosate in food and water.
• The sensor design shows potential for detecting other analytes by modifying the enzyme and probe functionalization.