Using fluorescence immunochromatographic test strips based on quantum dots for the rapid and sensitive determination of microcystin-LR.

A novel immunosensor for the detection of microcystin-LR (MC-LR) was constructed with use of immunochromatographic test strips (ICTS). Quantum dots were chosen to be the fluorescent labels for the immune sensor in ICTS because of their excellent optical and electronic properties with a relatively narrow emission spectrum. The detection sensitivity of the ICTS was related to the concentration of the fluorescent probe and the amount of the MC-LR standards. Under optimal conditions, with MC-LR as the target, the ICTS sensor had a linear range from 0.25 to 5 μg/L, with a correlation coefficient of 0.9901 and a detection limit of 0.1 μg/L. Furthermore, the repeatability of the ICTS was good, and the coefficient of variation was 10%. The ICTS immunosensor allows the reliable detection of MC-LR in water, and has potential in simple, sensitive detection applications. Graphical Abstract A novel method was developed to detect MC-LR using QDs based immunochromatographic test strip.