Indirect Detection of Lactate Through Voltammetry Using Glassy Carbon Microelectrodes

TL;DR

This study develops a novel method using functionalized glassy carbon microelectrodes for indirect, enzyme-based voltammetric detection of lactate at nanomolar levels, suitable for potential in vivo neural applications.

Contribution

The paper introduces a new enzymatic surface functionalization technique on GC microelectrodes for sensitive lactate detection via hydrogen peroxide measurement.

Findings

Lactate can be detected at concentrations as low as 10 nM.

Hydrogen peroxide detection is concentration-dependent.

Surface characterization confirms successful enzyme immobilization.

Abstract

Glassy carbon (GC) microelectrodes are increasingly being used for voltametric detection of electroactive neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin. However, non-electroactive molecules including lactate, glutamate, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) cannot be directly detected using conventional voltammetry without surface functionalization. In this study, lactate oxidase was immobilized within a chitosan matrix on lithographically patterned GC microelectrodes to enable indirect detection of lactate via enzymatic generation of hydrogen peroxide, an electroactive byproduct. The resulting hydrogen peroxide was detected using fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV), enabling indirect in vitro detection of lactate at concentrations as low as 10 nM. The functionalized GC microelectrodes were integrated into a four channel array on a 1.6 cm flexible neural probe with potential for in vivo applications. Surface morphology and bonding interactions were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. FTIR analysis confirmed successful chitosan deposition through characteristic O-H, N-H, amide, and C-O stretching bands. Hydrogen peroxide detection was concentration-dependent, while lactate detection exhibited early saturation consistent with enzyme-limited kinetics. These results demonstrate a mechanically robust GC microelectrode platform for nanomolar-level indirect lactate sensing and provide insight into the reaction-diffusion coupling governing enzyme-based electrochemical detection.