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Flexible micro(bio)sensors for quantitative analysis of bioanalytes in a nanovolume of human lachrymal liquid

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Abstract

A flexible electrochemical micro(bio)sensor has been designed for determination of several biological compounds, specifically, ascorbate, dopamine, and glucose, in human lachrymal liquid (tears). The microsensor for simultaneous determination of ascorbate and dopamine concentrations was based on a gold microwire modified with the tetrathiafulvalen–7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane complex as a catalyst. To monitor glucose concentration in tears, glucose dehydrogenase was immobilized on a gold microwire modified with carbon nanotubes and an osmium redox polymer. A capillary microcell was constructed for sampling tears. The cell had a working volume of 60–100 nL with a sampling deviation of 6.7 %. To check if the microcell was properly filled with buffer or tear sample, a control electrode was introduced into the construction. The electrode was used to measure the electrical resistance of a fully filled nanovolume cell. The mechanical flexibility is one of the most important features of the prototype and allowed direct collection of tears with minimized risk of damage to the eye.

Tear sampling and electrochemical analysis

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Lo Gorton for the kind gift of the osmium redox polymer. The work was supported financially by the Faculty of Health and Society, Malmö University, the Swedish Research Council, and the Gustaf Th. Ohlsson Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Society, Malmö University, 20506, Malmö, Sweden

    Viktor Andoralov, Sergey Shleev, Thomas Arnebrant & Tautgirdas Ruzgas

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  1. Viktor Andoralov
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  2. Sergey Shleev
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  3. Thomas Arnebrant
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  4. Tautgirdas Ruzgas
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Correspondence to Tautgirdas Ruzgas.

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Published in the topical collection Bioelectroanalysis with guest editors Nicolas Plumeré, Magdalena Gebala, and Wolfgang Schuhmann.

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Andoralov, V., Shleev, S., Arnebrant, T. et al. Flexible micro(bio)sensors for quantitative analysis of bioanalytes in a nanovolume of human lachrymal liquid. Anal Bioanal Chem 405, 3871–3879 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-013-6756-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-013-6756-x

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