Mediator-Free Biochemical Sensor with Selective Membrane
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional biochemical sensing systems fail to noninvasively and accurately detect biochemicals in biofluids in vivo, often relying on mediators that degrade during sensing, limiting their effectiveness for wearable metabolite and nutrient monitoring.
Innovation Solution
A mediator-free biochemical sensing device is developed, featuring a microfluidic layer with a reference electrode, a biochemical sensor electrode, a selective membrane, and an enzymatic layer, which allows for noninvasive electrochemical sensing by filtering interferents and generating a quantitative response current from biofluids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional biochemical sensing systems use mediators to detect biochemicals, then sensing capability is achieved, but the mediators degrade through chemical interaction with target analyte during sensing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the mediator component from the sensing system entirely. The mediator-free electrochemical sensor directly detects biochemicals through enzymatic reactions on the electrode surface, eliminating the degradation issue associated with mediators while maintaining sensing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an enzymatic layer as an alternative intermediary between the target analyte and the electrode. This enzymatic mediator provides stable, repeatable reactions without the chemical degradation problems of conventional mediators, enabling reliable long-term sensing.
2Measurement precision
If conventional systems detect biochemicals in biofluids, then health data is obtained, but interference from ionic species and electroactive substances limits accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs selective membranes with specific pore sizes and charge characteristics that allow only certain molecules to pass through to the electrode surface. This local filtering property enables the sensor to distinguish target biochemicals from interfering ionic species and electroactive substances in the biofluid.
Solution Approach 2:
The selective membrane used in the sensor contains controlled porosity that physically filters interferents while permitting target analytes to reach the enzymatic layer. This porous structure provides size-based and charge-based selectivity, improving measurement precision in complex biofluid environments.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device provides superior sensitivity, selectivity, and stability for detecting metabolites like glucose, lactate, and choline, enabling timely health interventions and minimizing interference from ionic species and other electroactive substances.
Implementation Method 1
an enzymatic layer disposed on the selective membrane and electrically responsive to a biochemical
Implementation Method 2
obtain a response current associated with the biofluid at the biochemical sensor electrode
Implementation Method 3
a selective membrane disposed between the biochemical sensor electrode and the biological surface
Data Source
AI summary
Example implementations include a method of manufacturing a biochemical sensor by forming a fluid region in a microfluidic layer, forming a reference electrode on a planar surface of an electrode layer, forming a biochemical sensor electrode on the planar surface, forming a selective membrane on the biochemical sensor electrode, forming an enzymatic material including a biochemical sensing material on the selective membrane, and bonding the electrode layer to the microfluidic layer. Example implementations also include a device with a reference electrode disposed on a planar surface of an electrode layer, a biochemical sensor electrode disposed on the planar surface, a selective membrane disposed on the biochemical sensor electrode and impermeable to at least one biochemical interferent, and an enzymatic layer disposed on the selective membrane and electrically responsive to a biochemical.