Enzyme–octadecylamine Langmuir–Blodgett membranes for ENFET biosensors

Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) films containing butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) are fabricated to realise an enzymatic field effect transistor (ENFET) for the detection of organophosphorus pesticides in water. Trichlorfon as a common pesticide is examined in our work. The BuChE-immobilised LB films are formed by adsorbing the enzyme molecules onto a stearylamine monolayer using the electrostatic force. Enzyme/stearylamine mixed LB films are immobilized onto a pH-ISFET surface and treated by glutaraldehyde vapour to improve the LB film’s stability. The ENFET thus obtained worked as a potentiometric biosensor for trichlorfon detection on the basis of enzyme inhibition. The detection limit for trichlorfon can reach 10−7 M (26 ppb). The surface characteristics of BuChE/stearylamine LB films obtained under various conditions of the dipping surface pressures are analysed qualitatively by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and analysed quantitatively by FTIR spectroscopy.