Expanding the Frontiers in Cholinesterase Sensing: A Novel Inhibition Assay for Detection of Organophosphate Nerve Agents

Throughout history, weapons of mass destruction have been employed in various physical, chemical, radioactive, and biological forms to cause mass destruction and causalities. Of these weapons, chemical warfare agents pose an especially relevant threat due to their stability, transportability, easy dissemination and mass production, and their difficulty of detection. Chemical warfare agents were introduced in World War One as mustard, chlorine, and tear gases, causing over 100,000 deaths and 900,000 injuries to all soldiers involved. Since then, a multitude of more advanced and toxic compounds have been developed with the purpose of rapidly disabling and killing large numbers of individuals. These agents have since been classified as nerve, blister, choking, and blood agents. The different classes of agents are derived from various chemical compounds and are each designed to inflict different injuries with different routes of toxicity. Nerve agents are comprised of organophosphate compounds, inhibiting acetylcholinesterase enzyme and manifesting in vomiting, cramps, drooling, respiratory difficulty, and even rapid death. Historically relevant organophosphate -derived nerve agents include the G-agents (tabun [GA], sarin [GB], soman [GD], and cyclosarin [GF]) and the V-agents (VX). Currently, despite intense efforts to halt the use of chemical warfare agents, exposure to nerve agents and other chemical weapons remains a relevant threat in this century. There still exists significant threat to military personnel and public, both in the intentional exposure by chemical attack and by inadvertent exposure through the careful destruction of these agents. The risk of emerging agents, such as Novichok compounds, and the historical agents demands the presence of an assay equipped for rapid and sensitive detection of organophosphate compounds. With adequate sensing methods, both soldiers and civilians are able to make educated decisions regarding protective, preventive, and minimization measures against organophosphate poisoning.

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