Skip to main content
Log in

Biosensors for the detection of organophosphate exposure by a new diethyl thiophosphate-specific aptamer

  • Original Research Paper
  • Published:
Biotechnology Letters Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

An aptamer specifically binding to diethyl thiophosphate (DETP) was constructed and incorporated in an optical sensor and electrochemical techniques to enable the specific measurement of DETP as a metabolite and a biomarker of organophosphate exposure.

Results

A DETP-bound aptamer was selected from the library using capillary electrophoresis-systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (CE-SELEX). A colorimetric method revealed that the aptamer had the highest affinity for DETP, with a mean Kd value (± SD) of 0.103 ± 0.014 µM. The docking results and changes in resistance showed that the selectivity of the aptamer for DETP was higher than that for the similar structures of dithiophosphate (DEDTP) and diethyl phosphate (DEP). The altered amplitude of cyclic voltammetry showed a linear range of DETP detection covering 0.0001–10 µg/ml with a limit of detection of 0.007 µg/ml. The recovery value of a real sample of pH 7 was 97.2%.

Conclusions

The current method showed great promise in using the DETP-specific aptamer to detect the exposure history to organophosphates by measuring their metabolites, although degradation of organophosphate parent compounds might occur.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bai W, Zhu C, Liu J, Yan M, Yang S, Chen A (2015) Gold nanoparticle-based colorimetric aptasensor for rapid detection of six organophosphorous pesticides. Environ Toxicol Chem 34:2244–2249

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bala R, Sharma RK, Wangoo N (2016) Development of gold nanoparticles-based aptasensor for the colorimetric detection of organophosphorus pesticide phorate. Anal Bioanal Chem 408:333–338

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Eissa S, Zourob M (2017) Selection and characterization of DNA aptamers for electrochemical biosensing of carbendazim. Anal Chem 89:3138–3145

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fernandez SF, Pastor A, Yusa V, Montesinos L, Pardo O (2019) Development of a novel methodology for determination of dialkyl phosphates in human urine using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 1130–1131:121810

  • Jiao Y, Hou W, Fu J, Guo Y, Sun X, Wang X, Zhao J (2017) A nanostructured electrochemical aptasensor for highly sensitive detection of chlorpyrifos. Sens Actuators, B Chem 243:1164–1170

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kongtip P et al (2017) The impact of prenatal organophosphate pesticide exposures on Thai infant neurodevelopment. Int J Environ Res Public Health. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14060570

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Liu DL, Li Y, Sun R, Xu JY, Chen Y, Sun CY (2020) Colorimetric detection of organophosphorus pesticides based on the broad-spectrum aptamer. J Nanosci Nanotechnol 20:2114–2121

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lu C, Bravo R, Caltabiano LM, Irish RM, Weerasekera G, Barr DB (2005) The presence of dialkylphosphates in fresh fruit juices: implication for organophosphorus pesticide exposure and risk assessments. J Toxicol Environ Health A 68:209–227

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mendonsa SD, Bowser MT (2004) In vitro evolution of functional DNA using capillary electrophoresis. J Am Chem Soc 126:20–21

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ohshiro K, Kakuta T, Sakai T, Hirota H, Hoshino T, Uchiyama T (1996) Biodegradation of organophosphorus insecticides by bacteria isolated from turf green soil. J Ferment Bioeng 82:299–305

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Randviir EP, Metters JP, Stainton J, Banks CE (2013) Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy versus cyclic voltammetry for the electroanalytical sensing of capsaicin utilising screen printed carbon nanotube electrodes. Analyst 138(10):2970–2981. https://doi.org/10.1039/c3an00368j

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Selvolini G, Bajan I, Hosu O, Cristea C, Sandulescu R, Marrazza G (2018) DNA-based sensor for the detection of an organophosphorus. Pesticide. https://doi.org/10.3390/s18072035

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simaremare SRS, Hung CC, Hsieh CJ, Yiin LM (2019) Relationship between organophosphate and pyrethroid insecticides in blood and their metabolites in urine: a pilot study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17010034

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Sudakin DL, Stone DL (2011) Dialkyl phosphates as biomarkers of organophosphates: the current divide between epidemiology and clinical toxicology. Clin Toxicol (phila) 49:771–781

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tian Y, Wang Y, Sheng Z, Li T, Li X (2016) A colorimetric detection method of pesticide acetamiprid by fine-tuning aptamer length. Anal Biochem 513:87–92

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang L, Liu X, Zhang Q, Zhang C, Liu Y, Tu K, Tu J (2012) Selection of DNA aptamers that bind to four organophosphorus pesticides. Biotechnol Lett 34:869–874

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang J et al (2020) An interdigitated microelectrode based aptasensor for real-time and ultratrace detection of four organophosphorus pesticides. Biosens Bioelectron 150:111879

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang X, Driver JH, Li Y, Ross JH, Krieger RI (2008) Dialkylphosphates (DAPs) in fruits and vegetables may confound biomonitoring in organophosphorus insecticide exposure and risk assessment. J Agric Food Chem 56:10638–10645

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou J, Battig MR, Wang Y (2010) Aptamer-based molecular recognition for biosensor development. Anal Bioanal Chem 398:2471–2480

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Kasetsart University Research & Development Institute (KURDI(FF(KU)25.64) and International SciKU Branding (ISB), Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University for language editing services.

Funding

This study is supported by the National Research Council of Thailand, Kasetsart University Research and Development Institute (grant no. KURDI (FF(KU) 25.64)), and the Omics Center for Agriculture, Bioresources, Food and Health, Kasetsart University (OmiKU).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kiattawee Choowongkomon.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Electronic supplementary material 1 (DOCX 263 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Swainson, N.M., Aiemderm, P., Saikaew, C. et al. Biosensors for the detection of organophosphate exposure by a new diethyl thiophosphate-specific aptamer. Biotechnol Lett 43, 1869–1881 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-021-03158-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-021-03158-2

Keywords

Navigation