Electrochemical sensing approach for molecule quantification in body fluids
A portable biosensor for detecting and quantifying a target molecule in a biological sample and method of use include a biosensor fabricated with a recognition layer with an imprinted polymer, an electrode electrically coupled to the recognition layer, and a logic circuit that may include a processor and non-transitory memory with computer executable instructions embedded thereon, wherein the imprinted polymer is shaped to have a profile that substantially matches a profile of the target molecule, such that the target molecule can form-fit and bind to the imprinted polymer, thus changing an electrical property of the polymer layer that may be detected to identify the presence of the target molecule.
1 . A method for detecting a target molecule in a biological sample comprising an excreted bodily fluid selected from sweat, blood, urine, saliva, or tears, using a biosensor comprised of a recognition layer with at least one imprinted polymer comprising an electropolymerized polyphenol formed as an insulating film, the imprinted polymer being shaped to have a profile that substantially matches a profile of the target molecule, an electrode electrically coupled to the recognition layer, the electrode comprising a graphene substrate, and a logic circuit, the method comprising:
introducing the biological sample by depositing the excreted bodily fluid onto the recognition layer of the biosensor, wherein the target molecule will form-fit and bind to the imprinted polymer when the target molecule is present in the deposited biological sample;
obtaining, with the electrode, a measurement of an electrical property of the recognition layer; and
generating, with the logic circuit, an indication that the target molecule is present in the biological sample based on the measurement of the electrical property.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising sweeping the electrode to regenerate the recognition layer in-situ.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the electrical property is an electrical current.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the electrical property is an electrical voltage.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the electrical property is an electrical impedance.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the target molecule further comprises an electroactive molecule.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the electroactive molecule is tryptophan, tyrosine, phenylalanine, dopamine, vitamin C, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, uric acid, mycophenolic acid, caffeine, methionine, cortisol, noradrenaline, or adrenaline.
8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising depositing a uniform redox probe on a surface of the electrode.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the target molecule further comprises a non-electroactive molecule.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the target molecule is leucine, iso-leucine, valine, busulfan, cyclophosphamide, creatinine, or urea.
11 . A method for detecting a target molecule in a biological sample comprising an excreted bodily fluid selected from sweat, blood, urine, saliva, or tears, using a biosensor comprised of a recognition layer with at least one imprinted polymer, the imprinted polymer being an electropolymerized polymer and shaped to have a profile that substantially matches a profile of the target molecule, an electrode electrically coupled to the polymer layer and having at least one surface with an uniform redox probe, the electrode further comprising a graphene substrate, a logic circuit, and a display, the method comprising:
introducing the biological sample by depositing the excreted bodily fluid onto the recognition layer of the biosensor, wherein the target molecule will form-fit and bind to the imprinted polymer when the target molecule is present in the deposited biological sample;
obtaining, with the electrode, a measurement of an electrical property of the recognition layer upon the target molecule binding to the imprinted polymer;
generating, with the logic circuit, an indication that the target molecule is present in the deposited biological sample based on the measurement of the electrical property; and
causing the display to display the indication identifying the presence of the target molecule.
12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising sweeping the electrode to regenerate the recognition layer in-situ.
13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the uniform redox probe comprises ferric ferrocyanide.
14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the electrical property is an electrical current.
15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the electrical property is an electrical voltage.
16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the electrical property is an electrical impedance.
17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the target molecule further comprises an electroactive molecule.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the electroactive molecule is tryptophan, tyrosine, phenylalanine, dopamine, vitamin C, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, uric acid, mycophenolic acid, caffeine, methionine, cortisol, noradrenaline, or adrenaline.
19 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising depositing a uniform redox probe on a surface of the electrode.
20 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the target molecule further comprises a non-electroactive molecule.