Nanozyme-Participated Biosensing of Pesticides and Cholinesterases: A Critical Review

Abstract

To improve the output and quality of agricultural products, pesticides are globally utilized as an efficient tool to protect crops from insects. However, given that most pesticides used are difficult to decompose, they inevitably remain in agricultural products and are further enriched into food chains and ecosystems, posing great threats to human health and the environment. Thus, developing efficient methods and tools to monitor pesticide residues and related biomarkers (acetylcholinesterase and butylcholinesterase) became quite significant. With the advantages of excellent stability, tailorable catalytic performance, low cost, and easy mass production, nanomaterials with enzyme-like properties (nanozymes) are extensively utilized in fields ranging from biomedicine to environmental remediation. Especially, with the catalytic nature to offer amplified signals for highly sensitive detection, nanozymes were finding potential applications in the sensing of various analytes, including pesticides and their biomarkers. To highlight the progress in this field, here the sensing principles of pesticides and cholinesterases based on nanozyme catalysis are definitively summarized, and emerging detection methods and technologies with the participation of nanozymes are critically discussed. Importantly, typical examples are introduced to reveal the promising use of nanozymes. Also, some challenges in the field and future trends are proposed, with the hope of inspiring more efforts to advance nanozyme-involved sensors for pesticides and cholinesterases.

Nanozymes: powerful catalytic materials for environmental pollutant detection and degradation

“…At present, intensive studies have been carried out to design nanozyme-involved sensors and biosensors for the sensing of organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) and carbamate pesticides (CPs) (Table 3). 156 CPs and OPs can inhibit the activity of certain natural enzymes through the carbamylation or phosphorylation of their active sites. Based on such a mechanism, the enzyme inhibition method has been intensively employed for pesticide analysis.…”

Science through the Lens of Nature: Recent Advances in Biomimetic Approaches towards Pesticide Degradation

“…The usage of such a biomimic can be fruitful for the degradation of phenolic compounds present in pesticides 19 . In addition to degradation, various nanocomposites developed with CNMs have also emerged as excellent sensors for pesticide detection [43][44][45] .…”

“…19 In addition to degradation, various nanocomposites developed with CNMs have also emerged as excellent sensors for pesticide detection. [43][44][45]…”

Signal Amplification Strategy Design in Nanozyme‐Based Biosensors for Highly Sensitive Detection of Trace Biomarkers

“…Wang et al [ 44 ] discussed the application of nanobodies and nanozymes with POD, phosphatase, and OXD activities in immunoassays. Zhu et al [ 45 ] reviewed the sensing principles based on nanozymes‐catalyzed pesticides and cholinesterases. Additionally, Li et al [ 46 ] provided a systematic overview of the application of nanozymes‐encoded luminescence assays for the monitoring of common foodborne contaminants.…”