Detecting and discriminating pyrethroids with chemiresistor sensors

Abstract

Environmental contextRegular insecticide treatments on the interior of aircraft impedes the spread of mosquitos and other pests internationally, but border protection agencies lack effective tools to ensure airlines have complied. We report the first use of chemiresistor sensors to detect and identify insecticide residue on an interior aircraft surface. The method could be developed into a tool that helps lower the risk of vector-borne diseases like malaria entering international ports. AbstractAustralia and other island nations are protected from stowaway pest vectors, like mosquitos, by aircraft disinsection – spraying the airplane interior with an insecticide. It is a simple biosecurity measure that can reduce the spread of malaria, Zika and other mosquito-borne diseases. However, checking airline compliance and the efficacy of the insecticide residue is a difficult task for border protection officials, which requires either a live fly bioassay or off-site laboratory testing. Neither of these methods are ideal for the hectic schedules of airlines. As such, we propose using gold nanoparticle chemiresistor sensor arrays, to detect and identify insecticide residue on the interior surface of aircraft. We have shown that hexanethiol functionalised sensors have a limit of detection of 3 parts per billion (ppb) for permethrin in solution and have a broad dynamic range responding to concentrations up to 1000 ppb. The chemical residues of three different insecticide products were lifted off an interior aircraft surface and identified with an array of seven uniquely functionalised sensors. This is the first ever demonstration of gold nanoparticle chemiresistor sensors being used for the analysis of chemical residues. These sensors have the potential to rapidly check the efficacy of insecticide residues on aircraft surfaces.