Fluorescence determination of glyphosate based on a DNA-templated copper nanoparticle biosensor

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Nanotechnology
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Glyphosate (GLYP) is a widely used herbicide, necessitating reliable detection methods.
• Existing GLYP detection techniques can be time-consuming or require complex instrumentation.
• Developing rapid, sensitive, and selective biosensors is crucial for environmental monitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a rapid and convenient fluorescence biosensor for glyphosate detection.
• To utilize DNA-templated copper nanoparticles (DNA-CuNPs) as the sensing platform.
• To achieve sensitive and selective quantification of GLYP in real samples.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of DNA-CuNPs via reduction of Cu2+ by vitamin C.
• Exploitation of GLYP's chelation with Cu2+ to quench fluorescence.
• Fluorescence detection at 615 nm excitation at 340 nm.
• Validation using titration experiments and analysis of real samples.

Main Results:

• The biosensor demonstrated a linear response for GLYP from 1 to 18 µM.
• A low limit of detection (LOD) of 0.47 µM was achieved.
• High selectivity was observed against other pesticides, including organophosphorus compounds.
• Successful application in real samples with recovery rates between 88.0% and 104.0%.

Conclusions:

• The developed DNA-CuNPs based biosensor provides a rapid (within 14 min), sensitive, and selective method for glyphosate detection.
• This approach offers a promising tool for environmental monitoring and food safety analysis.
• The biosensor's performance in real samples highlights its practical applicability.