Toward the Development of Rapid, Specific, and Sensitive Microfluidic Sensors: A Comprehensive Device Blueprint

Recent advances in nano/microfluidics have led to the miniaturization of surface-based chemical and biochemical sensors, with applications ranging from environmental monitoring to disease diagnostics. These systems rely on the detection of analytes flowing in a liquid sample, by exploiting their innate nature to react with specific receptors immobilized on the microchannel walls. The efficiency of these systems is defined by the cumulative effect of analyte detection speed, sensitivity, and specificity. In this perspective, we provide a fresh outlook on the use of important parameters obtained from well-characterized analytical models, by connecting the mass transport and reaction limits with the experimentally attainable limits of analyte detection efficiency. Specifically, we breakdown when and how the operational (e.g., flow rates, channel geometries, mode of detection, etc.) and molecular (e.g., receptor affinity and functionality) variables can be tailored to enhance the analyte detection time, analytical specificity, and sensitivity of the system (i.e., limit of detection). Finally, we present a simple yet cohesive blueprint for the development of high-efficiency surface-based microfluidic sensors for rapid, sensitive, and specific detection of chemical and biochemical analytes, pertinent to a variety of applications.

Polythiophene-g-poly(ethylene glycol) with Lateral Amino Groups as a Novel Matrix for Biosensor Construction

In the ever-expanding field of conducting polymer research, functionalized graft hybrid copolymers have gained considerable interest in the biomedical engineering and biosensing applications, particularly. In the present work, a new biosensor based on conducting graft copolymer for the detection of phenolic compounds was developed. Thereby, a robust and novel material, namely "polythiophene-g-poly(ethylene glycol) with lateral amino groups" (PT-NH2-g-PEG) hybrid conducting polymer was synthesized via Suzuki condensation polymerization and characterized with (1)H NMR analysis, UV-vis spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and fluorescence spectroscopy. PT-NH2-g-PEG architecture was then applied as an immobilization matrix to accomplish extended biosensing function. In a typical process, Laccase was utilized as a model enzyme for the detection of phenolic compounds. Detailed surface characterization of PT-NH2-g-PEG/Lac was performed by cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, fluorescence microscopy and scanning electron microscopy measurements. Optimum pH and polymer amount were found to be pH 6.5 and 0.5 mg polymer, respectively, with the linear range of 0.0025-0.05 mM and 132.45 μA/mM sensitivity. The kinetic parameters of PT-NH2-g-PEG/Lac are 0.026 mM for Km(app) and 7.38 μA for Imax, respectively. Furthermore, the PT-NH2-g-PEG/Lac biofilm was retained 82% of its activity for 12 days indicating excellent recovery as tested with artificial wastewater.