nm4bl2107 – TiO2 Nanotubes Alginate Hydrogel Scaffold for Rapid Sensing of Sweat Biomarkers – Lactate and Glucose

Udara-Bimendra_Poster_BC-Mat-
TiO2 Nanotubes Alginate Hydrogel Scaffold for Rapid Sensing of Sweat Biomarkers – Lactate and Glucose
Udara Bimendra Gunatilake1,2, Sandra Garcia-Rey1,2, Edilberto Ojeda1,2, Lourdes Basabe-Desmonts2,3,4* Fernando Benito-Lopez1,4*
1Analytical Microsystems & Materials for Lab-on-a-Chip (AMMa-LOAC) Group, Microfluidics Cluster UPV/EHU, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Spain.
2BIOMICs microfluidics Research Group, Microfluidics Cluster UPV/EHU, Lascaray Research Center, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain.
3Basque Foundation of Science, IKERBASQUE, Spain. 4BCMaterials, Basque Center for Materials, Applications and Nanostructures, Spain.
ABSTRACT
Versatile sensing matrixes are essential for the development of enzyme immobilised optical biosensors. A novel three-dimensional titanium dioxide nanotubes/alginate hydrogel scaffold is proposed for the detection of sweat biomarkers, lactate and glucose, in artificial sweat. Hydrothermally synthesised titanium dioxide nanotubes were introduced to the alginate polymeric matrix, followed by nanocomposite crosslink with di-cationic calcium ions, to fabricate the scaffold platform. Rapid colorimetric detection (blue colour optical signal) was carried out for both, lactate and glucose, biomarkers in artificial sweat at 4 and 6 min, respectively. The superhydrophilicity and the capillarity of the synthesised titanium dioxide nanotubes, when incorporated into the alginate matrix, facilitate the rapid transfer of the artificial sweat components throughout the sensor scaffold, decreasing detection times. Moreover, the scaffold was integrated on a cellulose paper to demonstrate the adaptability of the material to other matrixes, obtaining fast and homogeneous colorimetric detection of lactate and glucose in the paper substrate, when image analysis was performed. The properties of this new composite provide new avenues in the development of paper-based sensor devices. The biocompatibility, the efficient immobilisation of biological enzymes/colorimetric assays and the quick optical signal readout behaviour of the titanium dioxide nanotubes/alginate hydrogel scaffolds provide a prospective opportunity for integration into wearable devices.
Gunatilake, U. B.; Garcia-Rey, S.; Ojeda, E.; Basabe-Desmonts, L.; Benito-Lopez, F. TiO2 Nanotubes Alginate Hydrogel Scaffold for Rapid Sensing of Sweat Biomarkers: Lactate and Glucose. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2021, 13 (31), 37734–37745. https://doi.org/10.1021/ACSAMI.1C11446.