Vitamin B1NEW2026-08

Bionic nanozyme arrays for selective identifying and discriminating sulfonylurea herbicides via recognition site mimicry.

Cheng Yuqing, Tian Tian, Song Donghui, Ma Yu et al. — Journal of hazardous materials

Summary

This study developed a new, quick, and accurate way to detect sulfonylurea herbicides, which are commonly used in agriculture and can leave residues in food. Researchers created special "bionic nanozymes" inspired by a plant enzyme that these herbicides target, utilizing a form of vitamin B1 (thiamine diphosphate) in their design. This innovative method can precisely identify these herbicides in grain samples, helping to ensure food safety.

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Key points

Scientists created a new tool to quickly and accurately detect sulfonylurea herbicides in food.
This tool uses "bionic nanozymes" designed with inspiration from a plant enzyme and a form of vitamin B1.
The method can distinguish different types of these herbicides, even in complex food samples like grains.
This advancement helps improve food safety by better monitoring pesticide residues.

What the study looked at

What question the study asked: Researchers aimed to find a rapid and accurate way to detect sulfonylurea herbicides, which are widely used in agriculture and can leave residues in food and the environment. How it was studied (design/participants): Scientists designed "bionic nanozymes" that mimic a plant enzyme (acetolactate synthase) targeted by these herbicides. They incorporated thiamine diphosphate, a form of vitamin B1, and specific amino acids—key components of the natural enzyme—into their nanozyme design. They then tested if these nanozymes could react specifically with sulfonylurea herbicides by observing changes in their activity, comparing them to other pesticides. They built a sensor array and tested its ability to identify five different sulfonylurea herbicides across various concentrations and in real grain samples. What it found: The bionic nanozymes showed excellent activity that was significantly enhanced by sulfonylurea herbicides, but not by other types of pesticides. The sensor array successfully identified and discriminated between different sulfonylurea herbicides with 100% accuracy in controlled settings and accurately detected them in real grain samples. This demonstrates a promising new method for precise pesticide detection.

Dietary takeaway

While this study doesn't directly examine vitamin B1's role in human health or diet, it highlights how a form of vitamin B1 (thiamine diphosphate) is crucial in developing advanced tools for food safety. By enabling better detection of pesticide residues in grains, this research indirectly supports healthier food choices by helping to ensure the quality of our food supply. It's important to remember that this is a single study focused on a detection method, and its findings don't change current dietary recommendations for vitamin B1.

Abstract

Sulfonylurea herbicides (SUs) are widely used in agriculture owing to their high herbicidal efficacy and low mammalian toxicity. However, their persistence results in residues that pose potential risks to the environment and human health, making it essential to develop rapid and accurate detection techniques for these herbicides. Herein, we designed bionic nanozymes inspired by the structure of acetolactate synthase (ALS), the primary target enzyme of SUs in plants. Using the ALS cofactor thiamine diphosphate and key binding amino acids (arginine, proline, and tryptophan) as ligands, we synthesized bionic nanozymes that exhibited excellent peroxidase-like activity. SUs significantly enhanced the activity of the bionic nanozymes, and the degree of enhancement varied among different SUs. In contrast, organophosphate pesticides (OPs), carbamate pesticides (CPs), and other tested pesticides did not induce such enhancement. Therefore, we constructed a six-channel colorimetric sensor array and achieved 100% accurate discrimination of five SUs across a concentration range of 1-100 µg/mL. Furthermore, the SUs in the four real grain samples and the blind sample were also accurately distinguished by the array. This study not only provides an efficient method for rapid detection of SUs, but also opens new avenues for the bionic design of nanozymes aimed at the precise identification of specific pesticide molecules in complex matrices.

View on PubMed →DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.142800