Methacrylate-acrylate based polymers of low plasticiser content for potassium ion-selective membranes

Design and Construction of Enzyme-Based Electrochemical Gas Sensors

The demand for the ubiquitous detection of gases in complex environments is driving the design of highly specific gas sensors for the development of the Internet of Things, such as indoor air quality testing, human exhaled disease detection, monitoring gas emissions, etc. The interaction between analytes and bioreceptors can described as a "lock-and-key", in which the specific catalysis between enzymes and gas molecules provides a new paradigm for the construction of high-sensitivity and -specificity gas sensors. The electrochemical method has been widely used in gas detection and in the design and construction of enzyme-based electrochemical gas sensors, in which the specificity of an enzyme to a substrate is determined by a specific functional domain or recognition interface, which is the active site of the enzyme that can specifically catalyze the gas reaction, and the electrode-solution interface, where the chemical reaction occurs, respectively. As a result, the engineering design of the enzyme electrode interface is crucial in the process of designing and constructing enzyme-based electrochemical gas sensors. In this review, we summarize the design of enzyme-based electrochemical gas sensors. We particularly focus on the main concepts of enzyme electrodes and the selection and design of materials, as well as the immobilization of enzymes and construction methods. Furthermore, we discuss the fundamental factors that affect electron transfer at the enzyme electrode interface for electrochemical gas sensors and the challenges and opportunities related to the design and construction of these sensors.

Solid-Contact pH Sensor with Covalent Attachment of Ionophores and Ionic Sites to a Poly(decyl methacrylate) Matrix

With a view to improving the sensor lifetime, solid-contact ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) were prepared with a plasticizer-free and cross-linked poly(decyl methacrylate) matrix, to which only the ionic sites, only the ionophore, or both the ionic sites and ionophore were covalently attached. In earlier work with covalently attached ionophores or ionic sites, it was difficult to discount the presence of ionophores or ionic site impurities that were not covalently attached to the polymer backbone because the reagents used to introduce the ionophore or ionic sites had high hydrophobicities. In this work, we deliberately chose readily available hydrophilic reagents for the introduction of covalently attached H⁺ ionophores with tertiary amino groups and covalently attached sulfonate groups as ionic sites. This simplified the synthesis and made it possible to thoroughly remove ionophores and ionic sites not covalently attached to the polymer backbone. Our results confirm the expectation that hydrophobic ISE membranes with both covalently attached ionophores and ionic sites have impractically long response times. In contrast, ISEs with either covalently attached H⁺ ionophores or covalently attached ionic sites responded to pH with quick Nernstian responses and high selectivity. Both conventional plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC)-based ISEs and the new poly(decyl methacrylate) membranes were exposed to 90 °C heat for 2 h, 10% ethanol for 1 day, or undiluted blood serum for 5 days. In all three cases, the poly(decyl methacrylate) ISEs exhibited properties superior to conventional PVC-based ISEs, confirming the advantages of the covalent attachment.

3D Printed Ion-Selective Membranes and Their Translation into Point-of-Care Sensors

This technical note describes a method for fabricating ion-selective membranes (ISMs) for use in potentiometric sensing by using 3D printing technology. Here, we demonstrate the versatility of this approach by fabricating ISMs and investigating their performance in both liquid-contact and solid-contact ion-selective electrode (ISE) configurations. Using 3D printed ISMs resulted in highly stable (drift of ∼17 μV/h) and highly reproducible (<1 mV deviation) measurements. Furthermore, we show the seamless translation of these membranes into reliable, carbon fiber- and paper-based potentiometric sensors for applications at the point-of-care. To highlight the modifiability of this approach, we fabricated sensors for bilirubin, an important biomarker of liver health; benzalkonium, a common preservative used in the pharmaceutical industry; and potassium, an important blood electrolyte. The ability to mass produce sensors using 3D printing is an attractive advantage over conventional methods, while also decreasing the time and cost associated with sensor fabrication.

Unintended Changes of Ion-Selective Membranes Composition-Origin and Effect on Analytical Performance

Ion-selective membranes, as used in potentiometric sensors, are mixtures of a few important constituents in a carefully balanced proportion. The changes of composition of the ion-selective membrane, both qualitative and quantitative, affect the analytical performance of sensors. Different constructions and materials applied to improve sensors result in specific conditions of membrane formation, in consequence, potentially can result in uncontrolled modification of the membrane composition. Clearly, these effects need to be considered, especially if preparation of miniaturized, potentially disposable internal-solution free sensors is considered. Furthermore, membrane composition changes can occur during the normal operation of sensors—accumulation of species as well as release need to be taken into account, regardless of the construction of sensors used. Issues related to spontaneous changes of membrane composition that can occur during sensor construction, pre-treatment and their operation, seem to be underestimated in the subject literature. The aim of this work is to summarize available data related to potentiometric sensors and highlight the effects that can potentially be important also for other sensors using ion-selective membranes, e.g., optodes or voltammetric sensors.

Polymer Inclusion Membranes (PIM) for the Recovery of Potassium in the Presence of Competitive Cations

Potassium is an important nutrient used in fertilizers but is not always naturally available  We investigated the properties of polymer inclusion membranes (PIM) regarding their selective recovery of K⁺ over competitive ions typically present in urine (Na⁺ and NH₄⁺). The greatest flux was observed when the ratio of mass 2-nitrophenyl octyl ether (2-NPOE) used as plasticizer to cellulose triacetate (CTA) used as polymer was 0.25. The highest flux was achieved with a content of 24.8 wt % of dicyclohexan-18-crown-6 (DCH18C6) used as carrier, although the highest selectivity was observed with a content of 14.0 wt % of DCH18C6. We also studied whether the transport mechanism occurring in our system was based on co-transport of a counter-ion or ion exchange. Two different receiving phases (ultrapure water and 100 mM HCl) were tested. Results on transport mechanisms suggest that co-transport of cations and anions is taking place across our PIMs. The membrane deteriorated and lost its properties when the receiving phase was acidic; we suggested that this was due to hydrolysis of CTA. The greatest flux and selectivity were observed in ultrapure water as receiving phase.

Reduction of thrombogenicity of PVC-based sodium selective membrane electrodes using heparin-modified chitosan

Heparin-modified chitosan (H-chitosan) membrane was utilized to enhance biocompatibility of sodium selective membrane electrode based on the highly thrombogenic polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Sodium ion sensing film was prepared using PVC, sodium ionophore-X, potassium tetrakis(chlorophenyl)-borate, and o-nitrophenyloctylether. The PVC-based sensing film was sandwiched to chitosan or H-chitosan to prevent platelet adhesion on the surface of PVC. Potentiometric response characteristics of PVC-chitosan and PVC-H-chitosan membrane electrodes were found to be comparable to that of a control PVC based sodium-selective electrode. This indicates that chitosan and H-chitosan layers do not alter the response behaviour of the PVC-based sensing film. Biocompatibility of H-chitosan was confirmed by in vitro platelet adhesion study. The platelet adhesion investigations indicated that H-chitosan film is less thrombogenic compared to PVC, which could result in enhancement of biocompatibility of sodium selective membrane electrodes based on PVC, while maintaining the overall electrochemical performance of the PVC-based sensing film.

K+-selective nanospheres: maximising response range and minimising response time

Cross-linked K(+) ion-selective copolymer nanospheres have been prepared by free-radical photo-initiated polymerization of n-butyl acrylate (nBA) with hexanedioldiacrylate (HDDA). Nanospheres (<200 nm) containing H(+)-chromoionophore (ETH 5294) and lipophilic salt (KTClPB) for H(+)-sensors, or ETH 5294, a K(+)-selective ionophore (valinomycin) and anionic sites for K(+)-sensors were compared, and the effect of varying the normalised concentrations for beta (R(T)(-)/L(T)) and gamma (C(m)(T)/L(T)) was studied. Experimental data were fitted to theoretical curves for the dynamic response range, based on the effect of changes in the concentration of these lipophilic sensing components incorporated into the spheres, and conditions identified for maximising the response range. A complex valinomycin-K(+) formation constant, log K(IL) = 13.13 +/- 2.22, was obtained in the nBA matrix, and from the calibration curves the apparent acid-dissociation equilibrium constant (pK(a) = 12.92 +/- 0.03) was extracted for the H(+)-sensing system, and the equilibrium exchange constant (pK(exch) = 6.16 +/- 0.03, at pH 7) calculated for the K(+)-sensing nanospheres. A basis for establishing optimum performance was identified, whereby response range and response time were balanced with maximum fluorescence yield. Parameters for achieving nanospheres with a response time <5 minutes, covering 2-3 orders of magnitude change in activity were identified, demanding nanospheres with radius <300 nm and beta(crit) approximately 0.6. An RSD(%) approximately 3% was obtained in a study of the reproducibility of the response of the proposed nanospheres, and selectivity was also evaluated for a K(+)-selective nanosensor using several cations as interfering agents. In most cases, the fluorescent emission spectra showed no response to the cations tested, confirming the selectivity of nanospheres to potassium ion. The nanosensors were satisfactorily applied to the determination of K(+) in samples mimicking physiological conditions.

Enhancing the blood compatibility of ion-selective electrodes

In vivo monitoring of various analytes is important for many bioanalytical and biomedical applications. The crucial challenge in this type of applications is the interaction of the sensor with the host environment, which is qualitatively described by the term biocompatibility. This review discusses recent advances in methods and materials used for the improvement of the biocompatibility of ion-selective electrodes especially as it relates to their interaction with blood components.