title: Rapid surface plasmon resonance immunobiosensor assay for microcystin toxins in blue-green algae food supplements.
abstract: A surface plasmon resonance (SPR) immunobiosensor assay was developed and validated to detect microcystin toxins in Spirulina and Aphanizomenon flos-aquae blue-green algae (BGA) food supplements. A competitive inhibition SPR-biosensor was developed using a monoclonal antibody to detect microcystin (MC) toxins. Powdered BGA samples were extracted with an aqueous methanolic solution, centrifuged and diluted in HBS-EP buffer prior to analysis. The assay was validated in accordance with the performance criteria outlined in EU legislation 2002/657/EC. The limit of detection (LOD) of the assay was calculated from the analysis of 20 known negative BGA samples to be 0.561 mg kg(-1). The detection capability (CCβ) of the assay was determined to be ≤ 0.85 mg kg(-1) for MC-LR. The biosensor assay was successfully applied to detect MC-LR toxins in BGA samples purchased on the Irish retail market. MC-LR was detected in samples at levels ranging from <0.5 to 2.21 mg kg(-1). The biosensor results were in good agreement with an established LC-MS/MS assay. The assay is advantageous because it employs a simple clean-up procedure compared to chemical assays and allows automated unattended analysis of samples unlike ELISA.
authors.affiliation: Xenosense Ltd., Belfast, Northern Ireland.
authors.forename: Tatiana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vinogradova
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Danaher
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baxter
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moloney
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Victory
authors.forename: Simon A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Haughey
mesh_terms: D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002138:Calibration; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000737:chemistry*; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000032:analysis*; D057230:Limit of Detection; D052998:Microcystins / Q000032:analysis*; D020349:Surface Plasmon Resonance / Q000379:methods*; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry
chemical_list: D052998:Microcystins