Biosensing Chlorpyrifos in Environmental Water Samples by a Newly Developed Carbon Nanoparticle-Based Indirect...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Toxicology

Background:

• Chlorpyrifos (CHLP) is an insecticide with significant environmental and health risks.
• The European Union has banned CHLP, but its use persists globally.
• Monitoring CHLP in water is crucial for environmental protection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a rapid, on-site detection method for chlorpyrifos (CHLP).
• To create a user-friendly lateral flow device (LFD) for CHLP screening.
• To validate the LFD's performance in detecting CHLP in water samples.

Main Methods:

• Development of an indirect lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) using carbon nanoparticle-conjugated antibodies.
• Integration of the LFIA into a portable lateral flow device (LFD) cassette.
• Testing the LFD with fortified European surface water samples and analysis via digital imaging and visual inspection.

Main Results:

• The developed LFD achieved low detection limits for CHLP (<1 µg/L) in laboratory settings.
• Sensitivity in real-world water matrices was determined to be 2 µg/L using both digital and visual analysis.
• A simplified assay format with dried reagents was successfully implemented for ease of use.

Conclusions:

• The developed CHLP LFD provides a sensitive and rapid method for on-site water screening.
• The device is suitable for environmental monitoring and regulatory compliance.
• The simplified, tube-based assay enhances accessibility for field testing.