Smartphone-based portable biosensing system using impedance measurement with printed electrodes for 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) detection

Biosens Bioelectron. 2015 Aug 15:70:81-8. doi: 10.1016/j.bios.2015.03.004. Epub 2015 Mar 11.

Abstract

Rapid, sensitive, selective and portable detection of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) is in high demand for public safety and environmental monitoring. In this study, we reported a smartphone-based system using impedance monitoring for TNT detection. The screen-printed electrodes modified with TNT-specific peptides were used as disposable a biosensor to produce impedance responses to TNT. The responses could be monitored by a hand-held device and send out to smartphone through Bluetooth. Then, the smartphone was used to display TNT responses in real time and report concentration finally. In the measurement, the system was demonstrated to detect TNT at concentration as low as 10(-6) M and distinguish TNT versus different chemicals in high specificity. Thus, the smartphone-based biosensing platform provided a convenient and efficient approach to design portable instruments for chemical detections such as TNT recognition.

Keywords: 2 4 6-trinitrotoluene (TNT); Impedance; Peptide; Portable instrument; Screen-printed electrode; Smartphone.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biosensing Techniques / instrumentation*
  • Conductometry / instrumentation*
  • Disposable Equipment
  • Electrodes*
  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Explosive Agents / analysis
  • Miniaturization
  • Mobile Applications*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Smartphone*
  • Trinitrotoluene / analysis*
  • User-Computer Interface
  • Wireless Technology / instrumentation

Substances

  • Explosive Agents
  • Trinitrotoluene