Multisensor Systems and Arrays for Medical Applications Employing Naturally-Occurring Compounds and Materials

Abstract

The significant improvement of quality of life achieved over the last decades has stimulated the development of new approaches in medicine to take into account the personal needs of each patient. Precision medicine, providing healthcare customization, opens new horizons in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of numerous diseases. As a consequence, there is a growing demand for novel analytical devices and methods capable of addressing the challenges of precision medicine. For example, various types of sensors or their arrays are highly suitable for simultaneous monitoring of multiple analytes in complex biological media in order to obtain more information about the health status of a patient or to follow the treatment process. Besides, the development of sustainable sensors based on natural chemicals allows reducing their environmental impact. This review is concerned with the application of such analytical platforms in various areas of medicine: analysis of body fluids, wearable sensors, drug manufacturing and screening. The importance and role of naturally-occurring compounds in the development of electrochemical multisensor systems and arrays are discussed.

Keywords: array; blood; chip; electrochemical sensors; multisensor system; naturally-occurring compounds; saliva; urea.

Figure 1

Types of sensors and their ensembles according to the studied characteristics of a sample. Single-sensor (a–d), multisensor systems (e,f), multisensor arrays (g–i) and possible targets for detection. Detailed descriptions are provided in the text.

Figure 2

Schematic representation of the sample analysis path for an MSS (a) and an MSA (b) with recognition elements.

Figure 3

Array of sensors in microfluidic system [13] (a); Copyright © 2012 Manel del Valle. Array of microsensors within one electrode (b).

Figure 4

MSA functioning as MSS: preparation by etching and insulation (a), photograph of the prepared cable plugged array [23] (b), and image of microelectrode array used for cell analysis [24] (c). Reproduction permissions granted by Elsevier.

Figure 5

Schematic representation of the possible parts of the MSS/MSA.

Figure 6

A flowchart for choosing a recognition element for biosensors, adopted from [77]. Reproduction permission granted by ACS Publishing.

Figure 7

General scheme of the analysis by ELISA. Reused from [83]. Copyright 2018, MDPI AG.

Figure 8

Schematic illustration of the smart contact lens. The contact lens consists of the soft base—hybrid substrate, which is made of photocurable optical polymer with micropatterned Cu layer and silicone elastomere (elastofilcon A). The functional devices integrated in the base are: a rectifier, LED, a glucose sensor and a transparent, stretchable conductor for antenna and interconnects, made of Ag nanofibers (AgNF). Adopted with permission from [135]. Copyright 2018, American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Figure 9

The possible evolution of MSA/MSS, designed for wounds in the future: the MSA/MSS is incorporated into the wound bandage, monitoring the size of the wound, pH changes, bacterial contamination, etc. Reused form [181]. Reproduction permission granted by Elsevier.

Figure 10

Examples of wearable electronics. Band, patch [206] (a), sample of electrode array for ECG, EEG, EOG and EMG (b), and for e-textile [214] (c). Reproduction permissions were obtained from John Wiley and Sons.

Figure 11

Schematic representation of the patch clamp technique. The bioprocess, which occurs on the interface of the cell membrane due to the action of the pore forming protein and induced the voltage changes (a). The example of planar patch clamp high-throughput automated electrophysiology platform (b) [247]. Reproduction permission granted by Elsevier.