Determination of microcystins in river waters using microsensor arrays on disk.

The development of simple, accurate, and rapid multisample analytical methodologies to find out critical targets in waters is highly demanded. Optical microsensor arrays to determine microcystins in river waters are developed on the polycarbonate side of compact discs. The working principle of the sensors relied on an indirect competitive microimmunoassay, where free microcystin LR (MC-LR) competes with immobilized conjugate for specific monoclonal antibody. The results of the immunoreaction are detected with a DVD drive, showing the readouts in minutes. The method reached a sensitivity (IC(50)) for MC-LR of 1.04 μg/L and a linear response in the range 0.12-2.00 μg/L, allowing its determination below the upper limit proposed by the World Health Organization in drinking water. The developed analytical approach shows simplicity, good sensitivity, high throughput capability, and rapidity (37 min) in field use. The optimized assay showed also high congener reactivity to MC-LY (144%), MC-LA (125%), MC-LF (119%), MC-LW (102%), MC-YR (83%), and nodularin (94%). Furthermore, the suitability of the disk biosensor to quantify MC-LR was successfully evaluated analyzing river water samples, obtaining excellent recoveries (78-113%). Precoated discs are stable for at least seven weeks without loosing their analytical performances. Also, the portability of the analytical system permits on-site analysis and quantification, saving time and other resources. To our knowledge, this is the only work where a portable, easy-to-use, array based system has been developed for on-site microcystin quantification and applied to simultaneously analyze 42 samples plus the calibration curve, reaching microgram per liter sensitivity.