Complex characterization of human urine using super-nonwettable soot coated quartz crystal microbalance sensors

The laboratory dipstick analysis of human urine is among the frequently ordered medical tests due to the profusion of biomarkers that can be used to indicate the occurrence of health problems. Regrettably, the authenticity of these assays is compromised at low biomarker concentrations or when obtaining quantitative results is mandatory. Here, we reveal the first of its kind super-nonwettable soot coated quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) based biosensors with strong potential for in-situ quantification of human urine. Unlike the existing counterparts, the signal generated by the as-developed devices seems to reverberate the joint effect of a few biochemical components of the urine (pH, protein, urea, creatinine and uric acid) via visible changes in the rate of super-nonwetting to super-wetting state transition of the interfacial soot coating. In turn, the developed QCM sensors are endowed with the ability of recognizing subtle differences (e.g., tenths or units of mmol/L) in the urine's biochemistry at minimized noise levels, by registering fundamentally distinct resonance responses in terms of quantitative values and course of the signal. Our invention rises additional questions, whose answer is pending, but may inspire the research society for dedicating efforts in future fabrication of facile, time-efficient and flexible platforms for complex urinalysis. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study presents a novel super-nonwettable soot coated quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) biosensor with potential for in-situ quantification of biomarkers in human urine, capable of recognizing subtle differences and minimizing noise levels. The invention may inspire the research community to focus on developing easy, efficient, and flexible platforms for complex urinalysis in the future.