Inhibition Based Biosensors for the Detection of Environmental Contaminants: Direct Determination of 2,4 Dichloro Phenoxyacetic Acid

In this work data are reported on the possibility for detection of environmental contaminants endowed with toxic effects by specifically designed electrochemical biosensors. A new bienzymatic inhibition biosensor based on the combined catalytic activity of the enzymes alkaline phosphatase and glucose oxidase is proposed and discussed for the direct determination of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), one of the most powerful and diffused defoliants, which also is endowed with estrogenic properties. A discussion on the different approaches followed to manage the experimental data obtained by enzymatic inhibition biosensors is also presented.