Investigating the impact of copper-PEDOT:PSS matrix towards non-enzymatic electrochemical creatinine detection

TL;DR

This study develops a copper-PEDOT:PSS modified carbon electrode for rapid, reagent-free electrochemical detection of creatinine in artificial urine, demonstrating high sensitivity, selectivity, and stability for potential point-of-care kidney monitoring.

Contribution

The paper introduces a novel copper-PEDOT:PSS matrix on carbon electrodes enabling non-enzymatic creatinine detection with improved stability and selectivity over existing methods.

Findings

High selectivity against urine interferents

Stable detection with only 0.53% degradation over a month

Effective detection of creatinine in artificial urine samples

Abstract

Electrochemical creatinine sensors offer great promise towards rapid, reagent-free and point-of-care (POC) kidney-function monitoring. However, challenges related to analyte binding, data reproducibility, sensitivity, fouling and device degradation deter its widespread implementation. Here, we show how a carbon electrode modified with a combination of poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene): poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) and copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) can rapidly and accurately detect creatinine (CT) in artificial urine media employing electrochemical techniques. Applying redox potential sweeps (vs Ag/AgCl) using copper sulfate (CuSO4) solution on such sensor facilitates the CuNP embedding process inside the conjugated polymer matrix which has been further validated by supporting techniques. We predicted and validated the formation and contribution of two Cu-CT coordination complexes corresponding to Cu(I) and Cu(II) states, which are responsible for CT detection. The fabricated CT sensor exhibits high selectivity against major artificial urine interferents and is stable for a month showing minimal degradation (0.53%) in peak current value. Such sensors can be utilized to detect and monitor different stages of renal failure in real-time patient samples.