Microbial biosensor for detection of methyl parathion using screen printed carbon electrode and cyclic voltammetry.

Whole cells of recombinant Escherichia coli were immobilized on the screen printed carbon electrode (SPCE) using glutaraldehyde. Recombinant E. coli was having high periplasmic expression of organophosphorus hydrolase enzyme, which hydrolyzes the methyl parathion into two products, p-nitrophenol and dimethyl thiophosphoric acid. Cells immobilized SPCE was studied under SEM. Cells immobilized SPCE was associated with cyclic voltammetry and cyclic voltammograms were recorded before and after hydrolysis of methyl parathion. Detection was calibrated based on the relationship between the changes in the current observed at +0.1 V potential, because of redox behavior of the hydrolyzed product p-nitrophenol. As concentration of methyl parathion was increased the oxidation current also increased. Only 20 μl volume of the sample was required for analysis. Detection range of biosensor was calibrated between 2 and 80 μM of methyl parathion from the linear range of calibration plot. A single immobilized SPCE was reused for 32 reactions with retention of 80% of its initial enzyme activity.