In Phase 1 an electrochemical immunobiosensor will be developed for inexpensive, rapid, in field detection of brevetoxins in fish tissue and marine samples. The biosensor will be comprised of a working electrode covered with immobilizedantigen and a reference electrode, both mounted in a syringe needle. Toxin concentration will be determined by competitive, heterogeneous, immunoassay; sample brevetoxin will compete with immobilized toxin for glucose oxidase labeled antibody. After removal of excess sample, the enzyme label will be developed to produce a current inversely proportional to toxin concentration. Chaotropes, such as 10 mM HC1, will be used to regenerate the immunosensor for reuse. The biosensor will be easy to operate, portable, selective, and sensitive (ppt). In Phase 2,a range of immunobiosensors for other marine biotoxins such as, saxitoxin, tetrodotoxin, and palytoxin will be developed. These sensors will be incorporated into a miniaturized flow injection analysis instrument for rapid, automated, and inexpensive, infield, multitoxin analysis of fish tissue and marine samples.Commercial Applications:There is a large demand from the seafood industries, DOC, DOD, and FDA for rapid in-field detection ofmarine toxins. The technology would readily adapt to thedetection of other antigens, such as aflatoxins, and it would enable Universal Sensors to enter the $2.5 Billion immuno-diagnostics market.
