posted on 2024-01-27, 14:06authored byThiago S. Martins, José L. Bott-Neto, Osvaldo N. Oliveira
Monitoring immune-supporting micronutrients
such as vitamins
C
and D is relevant as these nutrients are involved in metabolic pathways
to fight against viruses and bacteria. The simultaneous determination
of these biomarkers in the same sample volume is challenging, with
multistep protocols if labels and redox probes are required. In this
paper, we report on a flexible bioelectronic chip combining a 25-hydroxyvitamin
D3 metabolite (25(OH)D3) immunoassay with an electrocatalytic assay
for vitamin C. One of the sensors in the chip was made with graphitic
carbon nitride modified with the electroactive dye toluidine blue,
decorated with electrodeposited 6.5 nm gold nanoparticles, and coated
with a layer of anti-25(OH)D3 antibodies. With this sensor, 25(OH)D3
could be detected via chronoamperometry at concentrations ranging
from 0.1 to 700 ng mL–1 with a limit of detection
(LOD) of 0.01 ng mL–1. The other sensor had 24.7
nm Pearls carbon nanoparticles whose electroactivity permitted vitamin
C detection in the range from 1 to 140 μM, with an LOD of 0.12
μM. Since the chip is flexible and does not contain labels or
redox probes, it has the potential for use in wearable devices to
track vitamins in bodily fluids, aiding personalized nutrition by
preventing deficiencies and toxicity.