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Recent Advances in Electrochemical Affinity Biosensors: Detection of Biological Toxin Agents
Doga Ekin Orhan1,2, Manolya Mujgan Yildiz1,3, Eda Nur Aybi1
1Graduate School of Health Sciences, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey.
Abstract:
Biological toxins are metabolic products produced by living organisms. They exert deleterious effects on another organism through food, drinking water, inhalation, injection, ingestion, and absorption through the skin or mucous membranes. Health effects such as respiratory distress, muscle weakness, seizures, paralysis, and death depend on the amount and route of exposure to toxins. They act quickly and are fatal even in low doses, and can be considered bioterror agents due to their high potency, the reasonably long latency period before symptoms are exhibited, the difficulty in detecting or diagnosing their presence and identity, and their relative ease in production and stability in the environment. The development of selective and sensitive electrochemical biosensors has been of main importance for the quantification of biological toxins in low amounts in biological samples. This review examined the detection of various biological toxin agents using aptasensors and immunosensors from 2019 to 2025. This study provided information on the effect of the mechanism of biological toxins on another organism, modification of various electrochemical affinity biosensors, and smartphone-based and portable electrochemical biosensors used in the analysis of biological toxins.
Insights
Biological toxins pose significant health risks and can be bioterror agents. This review highlights electrochemical biosensors, specifically aptasensors and immunosensors, for rapid and sensitive toxin detection.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Toxicology
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Biological toxins are potent metabolic products from living organisms with severe health impacts.
- Their high potency, potential for delayed symptoms, and ease of production/stability classify them as bioterror agents.
- Effective detection is crucial for public health and security.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the detection of biological toxins using aptasensors and immunosensors from 2019 to 2025.
- To provide insights into the mechanisms of toxin effects and sensor modifications.
- To explore advancements in smartphone-based and portable electrochemical biosensors for toxin analysis.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of scientific publications from 2019 to 2025.
- Analysis of aptasensor and immunosensor technologies for toxin detection.
- Examination of electrochemical biosensor modifications and portable detection systems.
Main Results:
- Electrochemical biosensors, particularly aptasensors and immunosensors, show high sensitivity and selectivity for toxin quantification.
- Recent advancements focus on miniaturization, portability, and integration with smartphones for field detection.
- Understanding toxin mechanisms aids in developing targeted detection strategies.
Conclusions:
- Electrochemical biosensors are vital tools for detecting biological toxins at low concentrations.
- Continued development of aptasensors, immunosensors, and portable systems is essential for rapid threat identification.
- These technologies enhance capabilities in public health surveillance and bioterrorism defense.
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