Selenium Supplementation Sensor Based on Direct Electrochemistry of Urinary Selenosugar and Total Selenium

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Biochemistry
• Point-of-Care Diagnostics

Background:

• Personalized assessment of trace element metabolism, particularly selenium (Se), is crucial.
• Existing methods for evaluating Se fortification lack timely evaluation, hindering personalized nutrition.
• Urinary selenosugar (Sel) has been identified as a potential marker for Se metabolism.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a rapid, point-of-care electrochemical method for determining urinary Se.
• To establish a non-invasive diagnostic technology for Se supplementation assessment.
• To create a low-cost consumer electronic device for classifying nutritive value.

Main Methods:

• Development of a Se-selective electrochemical probe (SeSE) using liquid metal amalgam.
• Square-wave voltammetry for rapid (∼5 min) determination of total urinary Se.
• Validation using a rat nutrition model, comparing SeSE results with HPLC-MS and ICP-MS.
• Integration of SeSE into a portable, battery-operated kit (SeEye) with a tablet PC console.

Main Results:

• SeSE demonstrated comparable performance to lab-based equipment, with a detection limit of 19 nM.
• Total urinary Se was detected in a single step via oxidation.
• SeSE accurately assessed nutrient utilization rates (selenite and selenomethionine) in a rat model.
• The portable SeEye kit provided consistent results with established analytical techniques.

Conclusions:

• The developed SeSE probe and SeEye kit offer a rapid, non-invasive, and cost-effective solution for assessing Se status.
• This technology enables personalized assessment of Se metabolism and nutritive value.
• The study establishes a new tool for monitoring Se supplementation and personalized nutrition.