pH-Activated Dissolvable Polymeric Coatings to Reduce Biofouling on Electrochemical Sensors

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Uçar A., González-Fernández E., Staderini M., Murray A. F., Mount A. R., Bradley M.

Journal of Functional Biomaterials, vol.14, no.6, 2023 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 14 Issue: 6
  • Publication Date: 2023
  • Doi Number: 10.3390/jfb14060329
  • Journal Name: Journal of Functional Biomaterials
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Aerospace Database, Applied Science & Technology Source, BIOSIS, Communication Abstracts, EMBASE, INSPEC, Metadex, Directory of Open Access Journals, Civil Engineering Abstracts
  • Keywords: biofouling, dissolvable packaging, electrochemical sensing, implantable devices, pH-activation
  • Open Archive Collection: AVESIS Open Access Collection
  • Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Implantable electrochemical sensors that enable the real-time detection of significant biomarkers offer huge potential for the enhancement and personalisation of therapies; however, biofouling is a key challenge encountered by any implantable system. This is particularly an issue immediately after implantation, when the foreign body response and associated biofouling processes are at their most active in passivating a foreign object. Here, we present the development of a sensor protection and activation strategy against biofouling, based on coatings consisting of a pH-triggered, dissolvable polymer, that covered a functionalised electrode surface. We demonstrate that reproducible delayed sensor activation can be achieved, and that the length of this delay can be controlled by the optimisation of coating thickness, homogeneity and density through tuning of the coating method and temperature. Comparative evaluation of the polymer-coated and uncoated probe-modified electrodes in biological media revealed significant improvements in their anti-biofouling characteristics, demonstrating that this offers a promising approach to the design of enhanced sensing devices.