Integrated Plastic Microfluidic Device for Heavy Metal Ion Detection

Abstract

The presence of heavy metal ions in soil, air and water constitutes an important global environmental threat, as these ions accumulate throughout the food chain, contributing to the rise of chronic diseases, including, amongst others, cancer and kidney failure. To date, many efforts have been made for their detection, but there is still a need for the development of sensitive, low-cost, and portable devices able to conduct on-site detection of heavy metal ions. In this work, we combine microfluidic technology and electrochemical sensing in a plastic chip for the selective detection of heavy metal ions utilizing DNAzymes immobilized in between platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs), demonstrating a reliable portable solution for water pollution monitoring. For the realization of the microfluidic-based heavy metal ion detection device, a fast and easy-to-implement fabrication method based on the photolithography of dry photosensitive layers is proposed. As a proof of concept, we demonstrate the detection of Pb2+ ions using the prototype microfluidic device.

Ensuring food safety: Microfluidic‐based approaches for the detection of food contaminants

“…Microfluidics offers more rapid and cost‐effective detection platforms by providing low‐volume mixing and simplified signal transduction for the indication of metal ions. A novel microfluidic‐based device developed within the past year combines passive microfluidic mixing with an array of gold‐interdigitated electrodes 94 . The sensor utilized immobilized DNAzymes between platinum nanoparticles for selective detection of Pb 2+ ions with a linear range of 10 nM–1 µM with no cross‐reactivity from other metal ions.…”

“…A novel microfluidic‐based device developed within the past year combines passive microfluidic mixing with an array of gold‐interdigitated electrodes. 94 The sensor utilized immobilized DNAzymes between platinum nanoparticles for selective detection of Pb 2+ ions with a linear range of 10 nM–1 µM with no cross‐reactivity from other metal ions.…”

Integrated microfluidic platforms for heavy metal sensing: a comprehensive review

“…Accordingly, several articles on heavy metal detection using microuidic-based devices have been published. [22][23][24] However, available literature caters to different adaptations of microuidics to achieve sensing. There is a need for a comprehensive review of all these adaptations where readers can grasp the basics as well as an understanding of the potential of this growing branch of sensing.…”