Microfluidic Biosensor Decorated with an Indium Phosphate Nanointerface for Attomolar Dopamine Detection.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Developing functional materials for miniaturized sensing devices is crucial for next-generation point-of-care systems.
• Metal-organic frameworks show potential for biosensing but face integration challenges in miniaturized devices.
• Dopamine (DA) is a key neurotransmitter implicated in neurodegenerative diseases, necessitating sensitive monitoring methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize a microfluidic biosensor for sensitive dopamine detection.
• To functionalize the biosensor with a hybrid material of indium phosphate and polyaniline nanointerfaces.
• To evaluate the sensor's performance, selectivity, and stability for practical applications.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a microfluidic biosensor.
• Functionalization with a hybrid material of indium phosphate and polyaniline nanointerfaces.
• Systematic characterization of sensing performance, including dynamic range, limit of detection, selectivity, and stability.
• Validation using neuro-2A cells under various treatment conditions.

Main Results:

• The microfluidic biosensor exhibited a linear dynamic sensing range from 10^-18 to 10^-11 M.
• Achieved a highly sensitive limit of detection (LOD) of 1.83 × 10^-19 M for dopamine.
• Demonstrated excellent selectivity towards dopamine and remarkable stability over >1000 cycles.
• Successfully validated the sensor's reliability and practical utility in detecting dopamine in cell models.

Conclusions:

• The developed microfluidic biosensor integrated with hybrid indium phosphate and polyaniline nanointerfaces shows significant potential for sensitive and selective dopamine detection.
• This technology advancement is promising for constructing next-generation point-of-care systems for neurodegenerative disease diagnostics.
• The hybrid material integration offers a viable strategy for overcoming limitations in applying crystalline materials for biosensing in miniaturized devices.