A novel electrochemical aptasensor for ultrasensitive detection of herbicide prometryn based on its highly specific aptamer and Ag@Au nanoflowers

• Published in: Talanta (Oxford) 2023-12, Vol.265, p.124838-124838, Article 124838
• Main Authors: Zhang, Zhenzhong, Luan, Yunxia, Ru, Shaoguo, Teng, Hayan, Li, Yuejiao, Liu, Minhao, Wang, Jun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ag@Au NFs; Aptamers, Nucleotide - chemistry; Aptasensor; Biosensing Techniques - methods; Capture-SELEX; Ecosystem; Electrochemical Techniques - methods; Gold - chemistry; Graphite - chemistry; Herbicides; Limit of Detection; Nanotubes, Carbon - chemistry; Prometryn; Prometryne
• ISSN: 0039-9140; 1873-3573
• DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2023.124838

Herbicide prometryn has become a common pollutant in aquatic environments and caused adverse impacts on ecosystems. This study developed an ultrasensitive electrochemical aptasensor for prometryn based on its highly affinitive and specific aptamer and Ag@Au nanoflowers (Ag@AuNFs) for signal amplification. Firstly, this study improved the Capture-SELEX strategy to screen aptamers and obtained aptamer P60-1, which had a high affinity (Kd: 23 nM) and could distinguish prometryn from its structural analogues. Moreover, the typical stem-loop structure in aptamer P60-1 was found to be the binding pocket for prometryn. Subsequently, an electrochemical aptasensor for prometryn was established using multiwalled carbon nanotubes and reduced graphene oxide as electrode substrate, Ag@Au NFs as signal amplification element, and aptamer P60-1 as recognition element. The aptasensor had a detection range of 0.16–500 ng/mL and a detection limit of 60 pg/mL, which was much lower than those of existing detection methods. The aptasensor had high stability and good repeatability, and could specifically detecting prometryn. Furthermore, the utility of the aptasensor was validated by measuring prometryn in environmental and biological components. Therefore, this study provides a robust and ultrasensitive aptasensor for accurate detection for prometryn pollution. [Display omitted] •An aptamer for prometryn was obtained by capture SELEX and improved screening strategy.•The aptamer recognized methylthio and isopropylamine group in prometryn simultaneously.•An electrochemical aptasensor was developed using the aptamer and Ag@Au NFs.•Prometryn in environmental and biological samples could be measured by the aptasensor.•This study offered an ultrasensitive and robust detection method for prometryn.