Abstract
The accumulation of Cyanotoxins (CTXs) in water reservoirs is an emerging global concern. Exposure to microcystin-LR (MC-LR), among the most common CTXs, is associated with hepatotoxicity and carcinogenesis and leads to both acute and chronic damages. Stringent regulation has recently been imposed by the World Health Organization, limiting the allowed MC-LR concentration in drinking water to <1 μg/L. Current methods for MC-LR detection require expensive equipment, trained personnel, and labor-intensive preparation. Therefore, there is an urgent need for an affordable, on-site diagnostic tool providing a rapid quantitative determination of MC-LR in various water types. In this study, we have developed an electrochemical (EC) biosensor that comprised of a miniaturized and multiplexed microchips, functionalized with anti-MC-LR antibodies, and MC-LR detection is based on the transduction of bimolecular binding into an electrochemical signal. The transduction method applied is based on the comparison of two (2) electrochemical techniques: a label-free Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) a labeled Electrochemical Immunoassay (ECI) detection of MC-LR in <10 min. The former, the EIS-based detection method, demonstrated the feasibility of detecting ultra-low (3 ppt or ng/L) MC-LR concentrations, and preliminary results also showed that the biochip demonstrated its use in rapid quantitative detection of microcystins in raw cyanobacterial cultures. However, the latter, ECI-based detection method showed a detection limit of 3µg/L (3ppb) of purified MC-LR concentrations, which is an order of magnitude less sensitive than the EIS-based detection method. These LODs obtained from the two methods are superior to currently employed solid-phase immunoassays and other analytical methods. Based on our findings, we anticipate that in the near future electrochemical biosensors would be an essential tool in water monitoring and environmental diagnostics. Figure 1
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
