Electrochemical detection of cholesterol in human biofluid using microneedle sensor

The development of a straightforward, economical, portable, and highly sensitive sensing platform for the rapid detection of cholesterol is desirable for the early diagnosis of several pathologic conditions. In this work, we present a fascinating skin-worn microneedle sensor for monitoring cholesterol in interstitial fluid samples. The microneedle sensor was developed by incorporating platinum (Pt) and silver (Ag) wires within pyramidal microneedles containing a microcavity opening; cholesterol oxidase (ChOx) was coupled on the Pt transducer surface using bovine serum albumin and Nafion. Under optimal conditions, the enzymatic microneedle sensor exhibited high sensitivity (0.201 mu A mu M-1) towards cholesterol in buffer solution, with good linearity over the 1-20 mu M range and a correlation coefficient of 0.9910. The analytical performance of the microneedle sensor was also investigated in artificial interstitial fluid and a skin-mimicking phantom gel; the sensor showed great potential for skin-worn/wearable applications with excellent linearity and a low detection limit. In addition, the developed microneedle sensor showed satisfactory stability and good selectivity towards cholesterol in the presence of potential interfering biomolecules, including glucose, lactic acid, uric acid, and ascorbic acid. This sensor exhibits enormous promise for straightforward, sensitive, and minimally invasive monitoring of cholesterol.

Automated summary

In this study, a convenient, economical, portable, and highly sensitive sensing platform is developed for the rapid detection of cholesterol, which is beneficial for early diagnosis of various pathological conditions. A skin-worn microneedle sensor is presented for monitoring cholesterol in interstitial fluid samples. The sensor shows high sensitivity, good linearity, and excellent selectivity, making it promising for straightforward, sensitive, and minimally invasive cholesterol monitoring.