Reagent-Free Lactate Detection Using Prussian Blue and Electropolymerized-Molecularly Imprinted Polymers-Based...

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Materials Science
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Sweat lactate is a key biomarker for physical performance and health.
• Existing detection methods are often invasive or lack convenience.
• Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) offer a stable and affordable synthetic recognition element for biosensors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a reagent-free electrochemical sensor for noninvasive sweat lactate detection.
• To integrate Prussian blue (PB) nanoparticles as an internal redox probe with electropolymerized MIPs (eMIPs) on screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs).
• To enable convenient and affordable point-of-care (POC) monitoring of lactate levels.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of eMIP/PB/SPCE platform for lactate sensing.
• Utilized electrochemical surface plasmon resonance (EC-SPR) for real-time monitoring of eMIP growth and analyte binding.
• Performance evaluation using Differential Pulsed Voltammetry (DPV) and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) in KCl solution and artificial sweat.

Main Results:

• The sensor demonstrated selective and rapid detection of lactate in the range of 1–35 mM.
• Achieved a Limit of Detection (LOD) of 0.20 mM using DPV.
• Exhibited excellent reproducibility, reusability, and a shelf life of up to 10 months.

Conclusions:

• The developed eMIP/PB/SPCE sensor provides a promising reagent-free solution for sweat lactate monitoring.
• This technology facilitates affordable and convenient point-of-care (POC) diagnostics.
• The platform is adaptable for the reagent-free detection of various other molecules.