Simple laccase-based biosensor for formetanate hydrochloride quantification in fruits

• We developed a novel Laccase(Glu)/AuNPs/AuE biosensor for formetanate determination.
• Formetanate analytical data was obtained by inhibition of the enzymatic catalysis.
• 4-Aminophenol was used as mediator of electron transfer.
• The biosensor exhibited excellent analytical performance and stability.
• The biosensor was successfully applied to fruits (95.5 ± 2.9 to 108.6 ± 2.5% recoveries).

This work describes the development of an electrochemical enzymatic biosensor for quantification of the pesticide formetanate hydrochloride (FMT). It is based on a gold electrode modified with electrodeposited gold nanoparticles and laccase. The principle behind its development relies on FMT's capacity to inhibit the laccase catalytic reaction that occurs in the presence of phenolic substrates. The optimum values for the relevant experimental variables such as gold nanoparticles electrochemical deposition (at − 0.2 V for 100 s), laccase immobilization (via glutaraldehyde cross-linking), laccase concentration (12.4 mg/mL), substrate selection and concentration (5.83 × 10− 5 M of aminophenol), pH (5.0), buffer (Britton–Robinson), and square-wave voltammetric parameters were determined. The developed biosensor was successfully applied to FMT determination in mango and grapes. The attained limit of detection was 9.5 × 10− 8 ± 9.5 × 10− 10 M (0.02 ± 2.6 × 10− 4 mg/kg on a fresh fruit weight basis). Recoveries for the five tested spiking levels ranged from 95.5 ± 2.9 (grapes) to 108.6 ± 2.5% (mango). The results indicated that the proposed device presents suitable characteristics in terms of sensitivity (20.58 ± 0.49 A/μM), linearity (9.43 × 10− 7 to 1.13 × 10− 5 M), accuracy, repeatability (RSD of 1.4%), reproducibility (RSD of 1.8%) and stability (19 days) for testing of compliance with established maximum residue limits of FMT in fruits and vegetables.