Ratiometric fluorescence sensor for organophosphorus pesticide detection based on opposite responses of two fluorescence reagents to MnO2 nanosheets

The detection of organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) has received considerable attention for their great harm to human beings. Herein, a novel ratiometric fluorescence biosensor was constructed for the determination of OPs by using Scopoletin (SC) and Amplex Red (AR) as probe pairs that have opposite responses to MnO2 nanosheets (MnO2 NS). MnO2 NS possess peroxidase-like catalytic activity, which could quench the fluorescence of SC as well as enhance the fluorescence of the non-fluorescent substance AR by oxidation. In the absence of OPs, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) hydrolyzed acetylcholine chloride (ATCh) into choline (TCh) and acetate. TCh led the decomposition of MnO2 NS to manganese ions (Mn2+), increasing signal of SC and decreasing signal of AR. In the presence of OPs, the activity of AChE was inhibited and the decomposition of MnO2 NS was hindered, therefore the fluorescence intensity of SC was weak and the fluorescence intensity of AR had an obvious increase. Moreover, under the optimal conditions, the ratio of fluorescence intensity response recorded on the AR/SC increases with increasing the concentration of DDVP. The method has wider linear range of 5.0 pg/mL ∼500 ng/mL with a detection limit of 1.6 pg/mL, which is superior to previously reported methods. This strategy has also been applied to a visual observation based on the color change of the solution under UV light.