A “Single-Use” Ceramic-Based Electrochemical Sensor Chip Using Molecularly Imprinted Carbon Paste Electrode

Abstract

An inexpensive disposable electrochemical drug sensor for the detection of drugs (vancomycin, meropenem, theophylline, and phenobarbital) is described. Molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) templated with the target drugs was immobilized on the surface of graphite particles using a simple radical polymerization method and packed into the working electrode of a three-electrode ceramic-based chip sensor. Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) was used to determine the relationship between the response current and the concentration of the targeted drug while using one sensor chip for one single operation. The time required for each DPV measurement was less than 2 min. Concentrations corresponding to the therapeutic range of these drugs in plasma were taken into account while performing DPV. In all the cases, the single-used MIP sensor showed higher sensitivity and linearity than non-imprinted polymer. The selectivity test in drugs with a structure similar to that of the target drugs was performed, and it was found that MIP-based sensors were more selective than the untreated ones. Additionally, the test in whole blood showed that the presence of interfering species had an insignificant effect on the diagnostic responses of the sensor. These results demonstrate that the disposable MIP-sensor is promising for quick and straightforward therapeutic drug monitoring to prevent the toxic side effects and the insufficient therapeutic effect due to the overdose and underdose, respectively.

Disposable Sensor Chips with Molecularly Imprinted Carbon Paste Electrodes for Monitoring Anti-Epileptic Drugs

“…The sensor quickly determines the concentration without reagents, thus reducing the complexities of adding a biological agent for detection. We used ferrocene in silicone oil as the redox marker in our experiment; the details can be found in our previous work [ 33 ]. When ferrocene is mixed with silicon oil, the large surface area of the oil allows many ferrocene molecules to be incorporated into the system, resulting in increased sensitivity to changes in the local electrochemical environment.…”

Design and fabrication of electrochemical sensor based on molecularly imprinted polymer loaded onto silver nanoparticles for the detection of 17‐β‐estradiol

“…48 From obtained results, it is evident that, as E2 concentration increases, a more number of E2 molecules are available to occupy the imprinted cavities of the MIP, thereby increasing the response current than NIP, which has no imprinted cavities to rebind the template. 49 The sensitivity of the proposed MIP sensor was determined from the change in current (Δi) divided by the change in the concentration of E2 (ΔC) which is the slope of the calibration curve. 50 For the MIP sensor, the sensitivity is 9.186 A/M which is almost near to three times that of NIP sensors (3.585 A/M).…”

Electroanalytical overview: The electroanalytical detection of theophylline

“…Another interesting approach which appears to bring electrochemical based technologies closer to being used for medical interventions, is a report by Aaryashree and co-workers [31] , who developed MIPs for the detection of theophylline (and other important antibacterial drugs, vancomycin and meropenem, and antiepileptic drugs, phenobarbital). Fig.…”

“…This exciting approach was utilised via differential pulse voltammetry and applied in buffer saline or whole bovine blood samples, the latter were modified with sodium citrate as an anticoagulant. The benefits of this approach, as stated by the authors are as follows [31] : (a) easy to use, (b) single-use or disposable, (c) measurement in whole blood, (d) only 50 μL of solution required for sensing, (e) reagentless measurement technique, (f) faster TDM than immunoassay and liquid chromatography, and (g) low cost, so that it can be used in the developing countries. That said, independent validation against current approaches ( e.g.…”

“…Effectively this is a "chemical jigsaw ", and when all the pieces come together, an easily quantifiable signal is ( c,d ) illustration of the method of filing the reference electrode and the working electrode. Reproduced with permission from Ref [31] . Copyright MDPI 2020. realised; Fig.…”