Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 3, 2026
07:13
Early Detection of Cyanobacterial Blooms and Associated Cyanotoxins using Fast Detection Strategy
Published on: February 25, 2021
4.5K
Determination of microcystins in river waters using microsensor arrays on disk
Sergi Morais1, Jesús Tamarit-López, Rosa Puchades
1Instituto Universitario de Reconocimiento Molecular y Desarrollo Tecnológico, Departamento de Química, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, camino de vera s/n E46022, Valencia, Spain.
Environmental Science & Technology
|November 5, 2010
Summary
A new optical microsensor array on compact discs enables rapid, on-site detection of microcystins (MC-LR) in river water. This portable system offers high throughput and sensitivity for water quality monitoring.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Analytical Chemistry
- Biosensor Technology
Background:
- High demand for simple, accurate, and rapid analytical methods for water quality monitoring.
- Microcystins (MCs) are potent toxins found in water bodies, posing risks to aquatic ecosystems and human health.
- Existing methods for MC detection can be time-consuming and require specialized laboratory equipment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a portable, easy-to-use, array-based optical microsensor system for on-site microcystin quantification.
- To achieve rapid detection with high throughput capability for field applications.
- To validate the system's performance using real river water samples.
Main Methods:
- Development of optical microsensor arrays on compact discs utilizing an indirect competitive microimmunoassay.
- Detection of immunoreaction results using a standard DVD drive.
- Optimization of the assay for sensitivity, specificity, and stability.
Main Results:
- The developed method achieved a sensitivity (IC50) of 1.04 μg/L for MC-LR, with a linear response between 0.12-2.00 μg/L.
- The assay demonstrated high congener reactivity, including MC-LY (144%) and MC-LA (125%).
- The disk biosensor showed excellent recoveries (78-113%) when analyzing river water samples, with a total analysis time of 37 minutes for up to 42 samples.
Conclusions:
- The portable disk biosensor system provides a simple, sensitive, rapid, and high-throughput solution for on-site microcystin quantification.
- The method's performance is suitable for monitoring microcystins in river waters, below WHO limits for drinking water.
- The precoated discs exhibit stability for at least seven weeks, enhancing their practical utility for field deployment.
