Use of sodium transfer tissue biosensor (STTB) for monitoring of marine toxic organism.

A highly sensitive sodium (Na+) transfer tissue biosensor (STTB) was designed using a frog bladder membrane to measure paralytic shellfish poisons (PSP). The STTB consists, of a Na+ electrode covered by the membrane, which was then integrated into a flow-through system for continuous measurements. In the absence of Na+ channel blocker, active transfer of Na+ occurred from inside to outside across the frog membrane. When the STTB was used to measure the Na+ -dependent dissociation of PSP, it was able to detect PSB at a level contained in a single cell. However, 5 fg or higher (100 cells or more) is needed for accurate and reproducible measurements. The toxicity obtained by the STTB was significantly correlated (r = 0.9449) to that determined by the HPLC. Therefore, the simple method of the STTB can be used not only to detect a low level PSP in toxic plankton populations, but also to monitor poisons in shellfish.