Low-voltage driven portable paper bipolar electrode-supported electrochemical sensing device

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Analytical Chemistry
• Materials Science

Background:

• Existing electrochemical sensing devices often face challenges with power supply and practical utility.
• There is a need for low-cost, portable, and user-friendly analytical tools for point-of-care applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel, low-cost, and portable electrochemical sensing device overcoming power and utility limitations.
• To demonstrate the device's capability for sensitive analyte detection using a simple, robust design.

Main Methods:

• Development of a portable device featuring a bipolar electrode system, LED read-out, and laminated paper-based components.
• Construction of electric circuits using laminating films with copper and conductive carbon tapes.
• Utilization of chromatography paper for reaction reservoirs and validation through hydrogen peroxide and glucose detection.

Main Results:

• The device demonstrated sensitive electrochemical responses, validated by hydrogen peroxide and enzyme-assisted glucose detection.
• The business-card-size chip achieved sensitive analyte detection (limit of detection as low as 1.79 μM) in laboratory and human serum samples.
• A wide dynamic range from 10 μM to 10 mM was observed.

Conclusions:

• The developed point-of-care sensing chip is easily fabricated, simple to use, robust, and has low power consumption.
• The device offers accurate sensing, proving the feasibility of creating a practical and portable analytical tool.
• This innovation addresses the need for accessible and effective electrochemical sensing technologies.