Inhibition-based biosensors for the detection of environmental contaminants: Determination of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid

In this work data are reported on the possibility for detection of environm ental contaminants endowed with toxic effects by specifically designed elec trochemical biosensors. A new bienzymatic inhibition biosensor based on the combined catalytic activity of the enzymes alkaline phosphatase and glucos e oxidase is proposed and discussed for the direct determination of 2,4-dic hlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), one of the most powerful and diffused defo liants, which also is endowed with estrogenic properties. A discussion on t he different approaches followed to manage the experimental data obtained b y enzymatic inhibition biosensors is also presented.