A Novel Nano-Scale Biosensor for Measuring Hemoglobin Oxygen Saturation Using Carbon Quantum Dots.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Nanotechnology
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Hemoglobin oxygen (HbO2) saturation is vital for patient monitoring.
• Conventional methods for HbO2 measurement are expensive and require complex calibration.
• There is a need for cost-effective and user-friendly HbO2 saturation biosensors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel paper-based biosensor for quantifying HbO2 saturation using carbon quantum dots (CQDs).
• To evaluate the performance of the CQD-based biosensor in measuring HbO2 saturation.
• To demonstrate the potential of CQDs as a calibration-free solution for HbO2 saturation monitoring.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of paper-based CQDs via a one-step thermal treatment.
• Utilizing the photoluminescence quenching property of CQDs upon interaction with hemoglobin.
• Quantifying HbO2 saturation by measuring the peak fluorescence intensity of CQDs.
• Inducing variations in HbO2 saturation using sodium dithionite and Winterbourn's equations.
• Comparing CQD-based measurements with conventional spectrophotometric analysis.

Main Results:

• CQDs exhibited excellent biocompatibility, low toxicity, and thermal stability.
• A strong linear correlation was observed between CQD peak fluorescence intensity and HbO2 saturation levels.
• CQD-based measurements showed close agreement with conventional spectrophotometric analysis.
• The developed biosensor effectively measured HbO2 saturation without extensive calibration.

Conclusions:

• Paper-based CQDs can serve as a sensitive and reliable platform for HbO2 saturation sensing.
• This novel biosensor offers a cost-effective and simplified alternative to existing methods.
• CQD-based technology holds significant promise for point-of-care diagnostics and patient monitoring.