Urinalysis with molecularly imprinted poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol) potentiostat sensors

Among many important biomarkers excreted in urine are albumin, uric acid, glucose, urea, creatine and creatinine. In the growing elderly population, these biomarkers may be useful correlates with kidney dysfunction, infection and related problems such as glomerular, proximal, and distal convoluted tubule functions, diabetes, hypertension and proteinuria. This study employed solvent evaporation processing of poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol), (EVAL) to form molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) that recognize creatinine, urea, and lysozyme. The mole ratio of ethylene to vinyl alcohol affected the performance: 27 mol% ethylene gave the highest imprinting effectiveness for creatinine and urea, while 44 mol% gave the highest effectiveness for lysozyme. Electrochemical examination using a home made potentiostat and imprinted polymer electrode showed electrical signals responsive to the target molecules. Finally, an actual urine sample was tested using the electrode. The test results were compared with those of the commercial instrument ARCHITECT ci 8200 system to precisely determine the accuracy of the molecularly imprinted polymer electrode for urinalysis.