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Břízová A, Pitschmann V. Simple Chemical and Cholinesterase Methods for the Detection of Nerve Agents Using Optical Evaluation. BIOSENSORS 2023; 13:995. [PMID: 38131755 PMCID: PMC10741445 DOI: 10.3390/bios13120995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
The extreme toxicity of nerve agents and the broad spectrum of their physical and chemical properties, enabling the use of these agents in a variety of tactical situations, is a continuing challenge in maintaining the knowledge and capability to detect them, as well as in finding new effective methods. Despite significant advances in the instrumentation of the analysis of nerve agents, relatively simple methods based on the evaluation of colour signals (absorption and fluorescence), in particular those using the cholinesterase reaction, continue to be of importance. This review provides a brief presentation of the current status of these simple methods, with an emphasis on military applications, and illustrates the high interest of the professional community in their further development. At the same time, it also contains some peculiarities (high reliability and durability, resistance to extreme climatic conditions, work in deployed means of protection, low purchase prices, economic availability especially in a state of war, etc.) that the authors believe research and development of simple methods and means for the detection of nerve agents should respect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aneta Břízová
- Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Nám. Sítná 3105, 272 01 Kladno, Czech Republic;
| | - Vladimír Pitschmann
- Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Nám. Sítná 3105, 272 01 Kladno, Czech Republic;
- Oritest Spol. s r.o., Čerčanská 640/30, 140 00 Prague, Czech Republic
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Kumar V, Kim H, Pandey B, James TD, Yoon J, Anslyn EV. Recent advances in fluorescent and colorimetric chemosensors for the detection of chemical warfare agents: a legacy of the 21st century. Chem Soc Rev 2023; 52:663-704. [PMID: 36546880 DOI: 10.1039/d2cs00651k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Chemical warfare agents (CWAs) are among the most prominent threats to the human population, our peace, and social stability. Therefore, their detection and quantification are of utmost importance to ensure the security and protection of mankind. In recent years, significant developments have been made in supramolecular chemistry, analytical chemistry, and molecular sensors, which have improved our capability to detect CWAs. Fluorescent and colorimetric chemosensors are attractive tools that allow the selective, sensitive, cheap, portable, and real-time analysis of the potential presence of CWAs, where suitable combinations of selective recognition and transduction can be integrated. In this review, we provide a detailed discussion on recently reported molecular sensors with a specific focus on the sensing of each class of CWAs such as nerve agents, blister agents, blood agents, and other toxicants. We will also discuss the current technology used by military forces, and these discussions will include the type of instrumentation and established protocols. Finally, we will conclude this review with our outlook on the limitations and challenges in the area and summarize the potential of promising avenues for this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinod Kumar
- Process and Technology Development Division, Defence Research & Development Establishment, Jhansi Road, Gwalior 474002, India.
| | - Heejeong Kim
- Department of Chemistry and Nanoscience, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea.
| | - Bipin Pandey
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712-1224, USA.
| | - Tony D James
- Department of Chemistry, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK.
| | - Juyoung Yoon
- Department of Chemistry and Nanoscience, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea.
| | - Eric V Anslyn
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712-1224, USA.
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Matějovský L, Pitschmann V. A Strip Biosensor with Guinea Green B and Fuchsin Basic Color Indicators on a Glass Nanofiber Carrier for the Cholinesterase Detection of Nerve Agents. ACS OMEGA 2019; 4:20978-20986. [PMID: 31867489 PMCID: PMC6921250 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.9b02153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2019] [Accepted: 11/08/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
This paper deals with the innovation of the Czech colorimetric biosensor Detehit designed for the simple, fast, and sensitive detection of nerve agents. The innovation is based on the use of an indicator consisting of a mixture of two triphenylmethane dyes, Guinea green B and a basic fuchsin, on a glass nanofiber filter paper carrier. The advantage of this solution is the blue-red color transition, which is much more visible than the white-yellow transition of other Detehit biosensors. The newly designed biosensor allows the users to visually detect (with the naked eye) the presence of the most significant paralytic substances (sarin, soman, cyclosarin, tabun, VX) in water at concentrations of at least 0.001 μg/mL. This biosensor design also enables one to detect these substances in air or on contaminated surfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukáš Matějovský
- Department
of Petroleum Technology and Alternative Fuels, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Technická 5, 166 28 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Vladimír Pitschmann
- Oritest
spol. s.r.o., Nábřežní
90/4, 150 00 Prague, Czech Republic
- Department
of Health Care Disciplines and Population Protection, Faculty of Biomechanical
Engineering, Czech Technical University
in Prague, Sítná 3105, 272 01 Kladno, Czech Republic
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Unique coated neusilin pellets with a more distinct and fast visual detection of nerve agents and other cholinesterase inhibitors. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2019; 179:113004. [PMID: 31791835 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2019.113004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Revised: 10/25/2019] [Accepted: 11/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Pellets with an immobilized enzyme (acetyl- or butyrylcholinesterase) are the up-to-date type of carriers used for the detection of nerve agents (soman, sarin, tabun, VX, Novichok) and other cholinesterase inhibitors such as organophosphate and carbamate insecticides (parathion, malathion). They are used in the glass detection tubes as a layer containing the enzyme together with the second layer, which contains a colorimetric reagent and substrate. The detection method is based on the visually or spectrophotometrically observable Ellman's reaction, which develops a yellow color in the absence of the cholinesterase inhibitor; otherwise, the detector preserves its original color (preferably white). This reaction occurs very fast and has a high sensitivity to nerve agents but it suffers from an indistinctive color transition from white to yellow. In the presented study, a new approach with the use of the synergic effect of magnesium aluminometasilicate with a high surface area marketed as Neusilin®US2 and a protective semipermeable Eudragit® RL layer was utilized. The prepared pellets have been evaluated for their properties such as the activity of the enzyme, intensity of the developed yellow color, sensitivity to cholinesterase inhibitor physostigmine, which acts as a nerve agent simulant, and physical parameters such as hardness, pycnometric density and sphericity. After the initial evaluation, all samples underwent a stability test under three different storage conditions for 24 months during which they were evaluated at given time points (0, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months). It was found that the prepared samples achieved a much higher intensity of developed yellow color than in the published studies while maintaining similar or better sensitivity, speed of detection and suitable physico-chemical properties.
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Tang W, Yang J, Wang F, Li Z. Efficient Preservation of Acetylcholinesterase at Room Temperature for Facile Detection of Organophosphorus Pesticide. ANAL SCI 2019; 35:401-406. [PMID: 30555106 DOI: 10.2116/analsci.18p322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
A simple and inexpensive strategy is reported to facilitate the detection of an organophosphorus pesticide by acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Pullulan is able to preserve AChE at room temperature, but the activity of conserved AChE varies significantly depending on the time, stir and volume of solution to dissolve it. The reason is that AChE entrapped in pullulan tablet remains in an inactive state to avoid denaturalization and deactivation. There is a reactivation process to gradually recover the enzyme activity during dissolution of the tablet. Stirring would interrupt this procedure and lead to a loss of enzyme activity. Dissolution of the tablet for 5 min with a volume of 15 μL could facilitate full recovery of AChE activity. The feasibility of activated AChE for organophosphorus pesticide detection was evaluated using malaoxon. These results contribute to the understanding of preservation mechanism by pullulan and the development of easy-to-use enzyme assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenzhi Tang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University.,Laboratory of Quality & Safety Risk Assessment for Agro-products (Yangling), Ministry of Agriculture.,National Engineering Research Center of Agriculture Integration Test (Yangling)
| | - Jingxian Yang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University.,Laboratory of Quality & Safety Risk Assessment for Agro-products (Yangling), Ministry of Agriculture.,National Engineering Research Center of Agriculture Integration Test (Yangling)
| | - Fei Wang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University.,Laboratory of Quality & Safety Risk Assessment for Agro-products (Yangling), Ministry of Agriculture.,National Engineering Research Center of Agriculture Integration Test (Yangling)
| | - Zhonghong Li
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University.,Laboratory of Quality & Safety Risk Assessment for Agro-products (Yangling), Ministry of Agriculture.,National Engineering Research Center of Agriculture Integration Test (Yangling)
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Vysloužil J, Vetchý D, Zeman J, Farsa O, Franc A, Gajdziok J, Vysloužil J, Ficeriová K, Kulich P, Kobliha Z, Pitschmann V. Pellet patented technology for fast and distinct visual detection of cholinesterase inhibitors in liquids. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2018; 161:206-213. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2018.08.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2018] [Revised: 08/13/2018] [Accepted: 08/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
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Modified Biosensor for Cholinesterase Inhibitors with Guinea Green B as the Color Indicator. BIOSENSORS-BASEL 2018; 8:bios8030081. [PMID: 30181477 PMCID: PMC6164029 DOI: 10.3390/bios8030081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2018] [Revised: 08/27/2018] [Accepted: 08/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Colorimetric biosensors of cholinesterase inhibitors are ideal for fast, reliable, and very simple detection of agents in air, in water, and on surfaces. This paper describes an innovation of the Czech Detehit biosensor, which is based on a biochemical enzymatic reaction visualized by using Ellman's reagent as a chromogenic indicator. The modification basically consists of a much more distinct color response of the biosensor, attained through optimization of the reaction system by using Guinea Green B as the indicator. The performance of the modified biosensor was verified on the chemical warfare agents (sarin, soman, cyclosarin, and VX) in water. The detection limits ascertained visually (with the naked eye) were about 0.001 µg/mL in water (exposure time 60 s, inhibition efficiency 25%).
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Pitschmann V, Matějovský L, Vetchý D, Staš M. Biochemical Detection of Cholinesterase Inhibitors in Water with a New Two-Component Chromogenic Reagent. JOURNAL OF ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY 2018. [DOI: 10.1134/s1061934818090101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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New Carrier Made from Glass Nanofibres for the Colorimetric Biosensor of Cholinesterase Inhibitors. BIOSENSORS-BASEL 2018; 8:bios8020051. [PMID: 29848955 PMCID: PMC6023030 DOI: 10.3390/bios8020051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2018] [Revised: 05/24/2018] [Accepted: 05/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Cholinesterase inhibitors are widely used as pesticides in agriculture, but also form a group of organophosphates known as nerve chemical warfare agents. This calls for close attention regarding their detection, including the use of various biosensors. One such biosensor made in the Czech Republic is the Detehit, which is based on a cholinesterase reaction that is assessed using a colour indicator—the Ellman’s reagent—which is anchored on cellulose filter paper together with the substrate. With the use of this biosensor, detection is simple, quick, and sensitive. However, its disadvantage is that a less pronounced yellow discoloration occurs, especially under difficult light conditions. As a possible solution, a new indicator/substrate carrier has been designed. It is made of glass nanofibres, so the physical characteristics of the carrier positively influence reaction conditions, and as a result improve the colour response of the biosensor. The authors present and discuss some of the results of the study of this carrier under various experimental conditions. These findings have been used for the development of a modified Detehit biosensor.
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Li K, Chen ZB, Liu DL, Zhang L, Tang Z, Wang Z, Zhao Y, Liu Z. Design and synthesis study of the thermo‐sensitive copolymer carrier of penicillin G acylase. POLYM ADVAN TECHNOL 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/pat.4299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ke Li
- State Key Laboratory of Gansu Advanced Non‐ferrous Metal Materials Lanzhou University of Technology, Materials Science and Engineering Lanzhou 730050 China
| | - Zhen Bin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Gansu Advanced Non‐ferrous Metal Materials Lanzhou University of Technology, Materials Science and Engineering Lanzhou 730050 China
| | - Dong Lei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Gansu Advanced Non‐ferrous Metal Materials Lanzhou University of Technology, Materials Science and Engineering Lanzhou 730050 China
| | - Lin Zhang
- Electronic Materials Research Laboratory, Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education and International Center for Dielectric Research Xi'an Jiaotong University Xi'an 710049 China
| | - Zhenghua Tang
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory for Surface Chemistry of Energy Materials, New Energy Research Institute, School of Environment and Energy South China University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Centre Guangzhou 510006 China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment and Pollution Control, Guangdong Provincial Engineering and Technology Research Center for Environmental Risk Prevention and Emergency Disposal, School of Environment and Energy South China University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Centre Guangzhou 510006 China
| | - Zhe Wang
- Chemistry Department Xavier University of Louisiana New Orleans LA 70125 USA
| | - Yu Zhao
- College of Textile and Garment Southwest University Chongqing 400715 China
| | - Zhen Liu
- Department of Physics and Engineering Frostburg State University Frostburg MD 21532 USA
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Zeman J, Vetchý D, Franc A, Pavloková S, Pitschmann V, Matějovský L. The development of a butyrylcholinesterase porous pellet for innovative detection of cholinesterase inhibitors. Eur J Pharm Sci 2017; 109:548-555. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2017.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2017] [Revised: 08/18/2017] [Accepted: 09/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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