Eco-friendly nanobioengineered CuO platform mediated through Ficus religiosa latex for malathion detection

Abstract

Nanobioengineered platforms are increasingly recognized for their unique properties and high surface area-to-volume ratio, making them ideal for sensitive and selective biosensing applications. This study presents the synthesis and utilization of biogenic copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) for fabricating a biosensor for malathion sensing. The synthesized CuO NPs were initially characterized to confirm their structure and stability. Subsequently, CuO NPs were electrodeposited on the substrate via electrophoretic deposition and immobilized with choline oxidase (ChO) enzyme to fabricate ChO–CuO NPs/ITO nanobioengineered electrodes. This platform demonstrated high selectivity and sensitivity for detecting the organophosphate pesticide malathion, showcasing a notable electro-oxidation response. In comparison to existing malathion biosensors, this platform offers a novel combination of high selectivity and enhanced sensitivity, providing a significantly lower detection limit of 0.41 μM. The sensor displayed a sensitivity of 159.2 μA μM⁻¹ cm⁻² across a linear range of 1–200 μM, indicating its potential application for rapid, selective, and quantitative malathion detection in environmental and agricultural samples. Thus, this work paves the way for future advancements in eco-friendly, low-cost biosensors for the detection of harmful pesticides, with potential applications in environmental monitoring and food safety.