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Electrospun nano- and microfiber mesh based transducer for electrochemical biosensing applications
* 1 , 1 , 2
1  Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Stellenbosch University
2  Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, Stellenbosch University
Academic Editor: Stefano Mariani

Abstract:

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which poses a significant and swiftly growing threat to public health, is exacerbated by inappropriate antimicrobial prescribing practices. To promote targeted and appropriate antimicrobial usage and slow the development of AMR, the World Health Organization has identified the need to develop affordable, sensitive, and rapid point-of-care biosensors to be used as diagnostic tools. Towards this goal, a novel transducer has been developed that, when coupled with a biorecognition element, could serve as the basis for a new range of targeted biosensors. This transducer is designed for use in an electrochemical cell and is manufactured using an inexpensive approach that is suited to high-volume production. More specifically, the transducer consists of a nano- and microfiber mesh made through electrospinning from a customized polymer blend that is intrinsically conductive. The mesh is bound to gold inter-digitated electrodes (IDEs) with a treatment step that increases stability of the polymer blend in aqueous media. The efficacy of these transducers in a sensing environment was evaluated by using the transducers as sensors to distinguish between different concentrations of PBS in DI water. The transducers were placed in different concentration ratios and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) was performed over the range of 100 Hz to 1 MHz. The data was normalized with respect to the maximum value observed and characteristic curves were generated from the data. Inspection of the data at specific frequencies found a direct link between the impedance observed and the concentration ratio of the electrochemical cell, thus proving that these transducers are suited to biosensing applications.

Keywords: Biosensors; Electrospinning; Transducers; EIS

 
 
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