Recent Advances in Cyanobacterial Cytotoxin Biosensors Focused on Cylindrospermopsin

Cylindrospermopsin (CYN) is a freshwater algal toxin produced during the proliferation of harmful cyanobacteria, known as cyanobacterial algal blooms (cyano-HABs). Recently, the effects of global warming have facilitated the growth of cyano-HABs, leading to their worldwide occurrence and an increase in toxin-related damage to aquatic ecosystems. CYN is known to exhibit strong cell toxicity upon ingestion, inhibiting protein synthesis and glutathione production and, ultimately, leading to cell death. In addition to cell toxicity, CYN exhibits skin toxicity, genotoxicity, and hepatotoxicity. It can also affect other organs, such as the kidneys (causing tubular necrosis), thymus (causing atrophy), and heart (causing pericardial and myocardial hemorrhage). The standard method used for CYN detection to date, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), has several drawbacks: it is complex, time-consuming, and requires trained researchers. Recently, biosensors have been shown to offer numerous advantages, such as their simplicity, portability, and rapidity, making them suitable for onsite applications. Consequently, recent studies have actively explored the latest biosensor-based technologies for CYN detection. This review discusses the recent advances in CYN detection platforms that utilize several types of biosensors.