Biosensors Based on Cholinesterase for Detection of Pesticides

Petr Skládal

Department of Biochemistry, Masaryk University Kotlarska^. 2, 61137 Brno, Czech Republic

Article history:
Received January 16, 1996 
Accepted April 12, 1996

Key words:
biosensor, cholinesterase-based biosensors, organophosphate and carba mate, pesticides

Summary:
This review article (112 references) surveys studies on cholinesterase-based biosensors for analysis of organophosphate and carbamate pesticides. The kinetic characteristics of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase enzymes are briefly discussed with respect to bioanalytical applications. Several methods for measurement of enzyme activity are introduced together with suitable transducers (Potentiometric, amperometric, spectrophotometric and fluorimetric). The detection limits for paraoxon as the reference pesticide are compared for various techniques and the applications of biosensors on real samples are summarised.