Thiol-Sensitive Electrochemical Sensors for Advance Detection of Neurotoxins in Water and Biomass

A method for the analysis of thiocholine, as well as of butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and its inhibitors using thiol-sensitive thick-film sensors has been proposed. Sensor sensitivity to thiocholine was achieved by mediator layer of manganese dioxide formed on the working carbon electrode. The detection limit for BChE and its inhibitor diazinon was 1·10^-10 M and 1·10^-9 M, respectively.

The developed method of analysis using a thiol-sensitive sensor chip was applied for rapid determination of anticholinesterase substances in natural waters and to control the incoming water mass at water intakes. In this case, the analysis was carried out on a "common" neurotoxicity, which may be the cause of unauthorized releases of relevant toxins or harmful blue-green algae. Studies of natural reservoirs show seasonal changes "common" neurotoxicity, which generally confirmed by biological observations.

As a verification method for the analysis of natural water samples contained cyanotoxins and showed the presence of a "common neurotoxicity" the absence of phosphorus-organic and carbamate compounds of anthropogenic origin (pesticides, for example) also confirmed using high - performance liquid – chromatography – high-resolution -mass - spectrometry (HPLC-HRMS) (LTQ Orbitrap, Thermo Finnigan).