3D Printed Ion-Selective Membranes and Their Translation into Point-of-Care Sensors

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Potentiometric sensing relies on ion-selective membranes (ISMs).
• Conventional ISM fabrication is time-consuming and costly.
• There is a need for rapid, reproducible, and scalable sensor manufacturing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a 3D printing method for fabricating ion-selective membranes (ISMs).
• To evaluate the performance of 3D printed ISMs in various electrode configurations.
• To demonstrate the adaptability of this method for fabricating sensors for different analytes.

Main Methods:

• Utilized 3D printing technology to fabricate ion-selective membranes.
• Investigated membrane performance in liquid-contact and solid-contact ion-selective electrode (ISE) setups.
• Developed potentiometric sensors on carbon fiber and paper substrates.

Main Results:

• Achieved highly stable (∼17 μV/h drift) and reproducible (<1 mV deviation) measurements with 3D printed ISMs.
• Successfully translated 3D printed membranes into reliable potentiometric sensors.
• Fabricated sensors for key biomarkers and analytes: bilirubin, benzalkonium, and potassium.

Conclusions:

• 3D printing offers a versatile, cost-effective, and scalable approach for ISM fabrication.
• This method facilitates the development of reliable point-of-care potentiometric sensors.
• The technology significantly reduces fabrication time and cost compared to traditional methods.