Recent Trends in Biosensors Based on Electrochemical and Optical Techniques for Cyanobacterial Neurotoxin Detection

Cyanobacteria that cause algal blooms are distributed worldwide and have been reported for a long time. Further, cyanobacterial growth is increasingly spreading because of anthropogenic eutrophication; this results in increasing damages by the production of a neurotoxin called cyanotoxin. Neurotoxins have adverse effects in humans, including disrupting signal transmission between neurons and muscles in various ways resulting in paralysis and death within minutes. To detect neurotoxins, analytical techniques such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) are being implemented, but have limitations as they are difficult to measure quickly in the field and are difficult to miniaturize. Introduction of biosensors for toxin detection provides a new direction as applying bioreceptors such as aptamers, antibodies, and nanomaterials can be used to create various sensors, without the limitations of conventional detection methods. In this review, we discuss the continued development of neurotoxin biosensors that are based on electrochemistry and optics.

Automated summary

This review discusses the continued development of neurotoxin biosensors based on electrochemistry and optics. Cyanobacteria that cause algal blooms are widely distributed worldwide and pose a serious threat to human health. Traditional analytical techniques for detecting neurotoxins have limitations, but the introduction of biosensors can overcome these limitations.