title: An amperometric glucose biosensor prototype fabricated by thermal inkjet printing.
abstract: The prototype of an amperometric glucose biosensor was realized by thermal inkjet printing using biological and electronic water-based inks, containing a glucose oxidase (GOD) from Aspergillus niger and the conducting polymer blend poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene/polystyrene sulfonic acid) (PEDOT/PSS), respectively. The biosensor was fabricated microdepositing PEDOT/PSS and GOD, in sequence, on ITO-glass, by a commercial inkjet printer, with the help of a commercial software. High density microdots matrices were so-realized, with a calculated resolution of about 221 x 221 dpi (dot per inch). By means of a rapid and easy assay it was demonstrated that no activity loss occurred upon the printing of GOD, despite of the use of a thermal printhead. The device was encapsulated in a semipermeable membrane of cellulose acetate, applied by dip-coating, in order to prevent dissolution of the enzyme and/or PEDOT/PSS in water. The preliminary response of the electrode was measured in an aqueous glucose solution in the presence of ferrocenemethanol (FeMeOH) as a mediator, and resulted linear up to 60 mM in glucose. The best sensitivity value achieved was 6.43 microAM(-1) cm(-2) (447 nAM(-1) U(-1) cm(-2)). The characteristics of the device, and the possible performance improvements have been analyzed and discussed. The reported findings indicate that inkjet printing could be a viable instrument for the easy construction of a working biosensor via direct digital design using biological and conductive polymer based inks. Such an approach may be seen as an example of "biopolytronics".
authors.affiliation: Department of Industrial Chemistry and Materials, University of Bologna, Viale del Risorgimento 4, 40136 Bologna, Italy. setti@ms.fci.unibo.it
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Setti
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fraleoni-Morgera
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ballarin
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Filippini
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Frascaro
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Piana
mesh_terms: D001234:Aspergillus niger / Q000201:enzymology; D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible / Q000737:chemistry; D016287:Computer Peripherals; D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005947:Glucose / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D005949:Glucose Oxidase / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011327:Printing / Q000295:instrumentation
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D005949:Glucose Oxidase; D005947:Glucose