Electrochromic Sensor for Multiplex Detection of Metabolites Enabled by Closed Bipolar Electrode Coupling

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Biosensor Technology
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Electrochemical biosensors offer low-cost, high-throughput analysis.
• Converting electrochemical signals to optical readouts enhances sensor utility.
• Multiplexed detection of metabolites is crucial for various diagnostic applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a closed bipolar electrode (CBE)-based two-cell electrochromic device for multiplexed metabolite sensing.
• To demonstrate simultaneous detection of lactate, glucose, and uric acid.
• To explore the potential for point-of-care applications using disposable, paper-based electrodes.

Main Methods:

• A two-cell electrochromic device utilizing a closed bipolar electrode (CBE) was designed.
• Analytical and reporter cells were employed, with the analytical cell containing redox mediators and specific oxidases.
• Multiplexing was achieved by integrating multiple detection chemistries into a single CBE device.

Main Results:

• The device successfully demonstrated simultaneous determination of glucose, lactate, and uric acid.
• Color change magnitude in the reporter cell correlated with metabolite concentration in the analytical cell.
• Sensitivity was tunable by adjusting reporter cell volume.

Conclusions:

• The CBE-based electrochromic device enables sensitive, multiplexed detection of metabolites.
• Disposable, paper-based electrodes facilitate point-of-care screening of multiple biomarkers.
• This technology holds promise for high-throughput, low-cost diagnostic platforms.