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Review
. 2019 May 24;4(5):1151-1173.
doi: 10.1021/acssensors.9b00376. Epub 2019 May 14.

A Comprehensive Review: Development of Electrochemical Biosensors for Detection of Cyanotoxins in Freshwater

Vasileia Vogiazi  1 , Armah de la Cruz  2 , Siddharth Mishra  3 , Vesselin Shanov  1   3 , William R Heineman  4 , Dionysios D Dionysiou  1
Affiliations
Review

A Comprehensive Review: Development of Electrochemical Biosensors for Detection of Cyanotoxins in Freshwater

Vasileia Vogiazi et al. ACS Sens. .

Abstract

Cyanobacteria harmful algal blooms are increasing in frequency and cyanotoxins have become an environmental and public concern in the U.S. and worldwide. In this Review, the majority of reported studies and developments of electrochemical affinity biosensors for cyanotoxins are critically reviewed and discussed. Essential background information about cyanobacterial toxins and electrochemical biosensors is combined with the rapidly moving development of electrochemical biosensors for these toxins. Current issues and future challenges for the development of useful electrochemical biosensors for cyanotoxin detection that meet the demands for applications in field freshwater samples are discussed. The major aspects of the entire review article in a prescribed sequence include (i) the state-of-the-art knowledge of the toxicity of cyanotoxins, (ii) important harmful algal bloom events, (iii) advisories, guidelines, and regulations, (iv) conventional analytical methods for determination of cyanotoxins, (v) electrochemical transduction, (vi) recognition receptors, (vii) reported electrochemical biosensors for cyanotoxins, (viii) summary of analytical performance, and (ix) recent advances and future trends. Discussion includes electrochemical techniques and devices, biomolecules with high affinity, numerous array designs, various detection approaches, and research strategies in tailoring the properties of the transducer-biomolecule interface. Scientific and engineering aspects are presented in depth. This review aims to serve as a valuable source to scientists and engineers entering the interdisciplinary field of electrochemical biosensors for detection of cyanotoxins in freshwaters.

Keywords: anatoxin-a; cyanotoxins; cylindrospermopsin; electrochemical biosensors; microcystins; monitoring; nanosensors; saxitoxin; sensing; toxicity.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing financial interest.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Chemical structures of hepatotoxins and neurotoxins.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Schematic description of components and operation principle for electrochemical biosensors used in detection of cyanotoxins.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Categorization of electrochemical techniques used for detection of cyanotoxins.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Schematic representation of assay configurations commonly used for detection of cyanotoxins.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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