Development of the smartphone-based colorimetry for multi-analyte sensing arrays

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Analytical Chemistry
• Mobile Health

Background:

• Colorimetric sensor arrays offer a low-cost method for detecting multiple analytes.
• Visual evaluation of colorimetric sensors introduces subjectivity and environmental variability.
• Smartphones present an opportunity for portable, quantitative analysis due to their imaging and processing capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a smartphone application for digitizing colorimetric sensor arrays.
• To enable immediate, accurate, and objective point-of-care (POC) multi-analyte sensing.
• To integrate paper-based colorimetry with smartphone technology for accessible diagnostics.

Main Methods:

• Development of a smartphone app to automatically identify sensor positions.
• Implementation of a color correction algorithm for digitizing sensor colors.
• Utilizing pre-loaded calibration curves to convert corrected colors into analyte concentration values.
• Leveraging smartphone snapshots for laboratory-level spectrometry.

Main Results:

• The developed app successfully digitizes colorimetric sensor array data.
• The system achieves automated sensor identification and color measurement.
• Analyte concentrations are accurately determined using corrected color data and calibration curves.
• The integrated system provides a practical solution for POC diagnostics.

Conclusions:

• The smartphone app provides a practical and accurate method for digitizing colorimetric sensor arrays.
• This technology bridges the gap between inexpensive paper-based sensors and quantitative analysis.
• The developed system enables convenient and accessible point-of-care multi-analyte sensing.