Malays. J. Anal. Sci. Volume 30 Number 4 (2026): 1791

Research Article

A sensitive electrochemical aptasensor for cypermethrin detection using a screen-printed carbon electrode modified with polypyrrole/gold nanoparticles

Suria Mohd Saad^1*, Nur Azura Mohd Said¹, Nurul Hidayah Ahmad Puat¹, Suhaina Supian², Jamaliah Jaafar³ and Hidayatul Wahidah Sobri¹

¹Biotechnology and Nanotechnology Research Centre, MARDI Headquarters, Persiaran MARDI-UPM, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

²Strategic Planning and Innovation Management Centre, MARDI Headquarters, Persiaran MARDI-UPM, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

³Soil, Water & Fertiliser Science Research Centre, MARDI Headquarters, Persiaran MARDI-UPM, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

^*Corresponding author : suria@mardi.gov.my

Received: 17 December 2025; Revised: 16 June 2026; Accepted: 24 June 2026; Published: 30 August 2026

This article was presented at the 2025 Asiasense Conference, held on September 10–11, 2025. The event was organized by the SENSOR Malaysia, with Associate Professor Dr. Kavirajaa Pandian A/L Sambasevam serving as Guest Editor.

Abstract

The synthetic pyrethroid cypermethrin (CM) is employed as an insecticide. It has a long half-life, is simply excreted as residue, and pollutes food products derived from agriculture, leading to various health problems. To monitor pesticides in agricultural products, an electrochemical aptasensor based on polypyrrole/gold nanoparticles (Ppy/AuNPs) modified screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) for CM detection was developed. Modification of SPCE with Ppy/AuNPs as a sensing platform was accomplished via dropcast-polymerisation, whereas electrochemical testing was achieved with a direct format where CM in solution would bind with an anti-cypermethrin aptamer (Apt) immobilised onto the surface of modified SPCE. A linear regression of CM with R² = 0.9668 and a low limit of detection (LOD) of 0.256 ppm was reported. Analysis of vegetable samples showed that this electrochemical aptasensor could identify CM in actual samples, and the results were in close agreement with those obtained via liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).

Keywords: cypermethrin, polypyrrole, gold nanoparticles, aptasensor, electrochemical

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