Microsystems & Nanoengineering (Nov 2024)

Molecularly imprinted fluorescence sensor chip for lactate measurement

  • Muersha Wusiman,
  • Fariborz Taghipour

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41378-024-00803-4
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10, no. 1
pp. 1 – 13

Abstract

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Abstract Lactate measurements provide an opportunity to conveniently evaluate bodily functions and sports performance. A molecularly imprinted fluorescence biochip provides an innovative way to achieve lactate measurement and overcomes the limitations of enzyme-based sensors. To realize this goal, ZnO quantum dots (QDs), a biocompatible sensing material, were combined with selective receptors comprised of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs). The lactate-selective imprinted polymers were formed using 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) and 5-indolyl boronic acid monomers. Furthermore, a new solid-phase sensing platform that overcomes the limitations of liquid-based sensors was developed to detect lactate in real-time. The platform consists of the biosensor chip with a thin-film sensing layer, an ultraviolet (UV) excitation source, and a portable light detector. The final sensor has a sensitivity of 0.0217 mmol L-1 for 0–30 mmol L-1 of lactate in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) with a correlation coefficient of 0.97. The high sensor sensitivity and selectivity demonstrates the applicability of the ZnO QDs and synthetic receptors for sweat analysis.