Continuous Opioid Monitoring along with Nerve Agents on a Wearable Microneedle Sensor Array

J Am Chem Soc. 2020 Apr 1;142(13):5991-5995. doi: 10.1021/jacs.0c01883. Epub 2020 Mar 24.

Abstract

There are urgent needs for sensing devices capable of distinguishing between episodes of opioid overdose and nerve agent poisoning. This work presents a wearable microneedle sensor array for minimally invasive continuous electrochemical detection of opioid (OPi) and organophosphate (OP) nerve agents on a single patch platform. The new multimodal microneedle sensor array relies on unmodified and organophosphorus hydrolase (OPH) enzyme-modified carbon paste (CP) microneedle electrodes for square wave voltammetric (SWV) detection of the fentanyl and nerve agent targets, respectively. Such real-time simultaneous sensing provides distinct unique information, along with attractive analytical performance, including high sensitivity, selectivity, and stability, for real-time on-body OPi-OP analysis. The patch represents the first sensing device capable of continuously monitoring fentanyl down to the nanomolar level through a nanomaterial-based multilayered surface architecture. Applicability of the sensor array toward opioids screening is demonstrated for morphine and norfentanyl. Successful OPi-OP detection conducted in a skin-mimicking phantom gel demonstrates the suitability of the device for rapid on-body sensing. Such progress toward continuous minimally invasive transdermal analysis of drugs of abuse and nerve agents holds promise for rapid countermeasures for protecting soldiers, civilians, and healthcare personnel.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Analgesics, Opioid / analysis*
  • Biosensing Techniques / instrumentation*
  • Equipment Design
  • Fentanyl / analysis*
  • Humans
  • Needles
  • Nerve Agents / analysis*
  • Organophosphates / analysis*
  • Wearable Electronic Devices

Substances

  • Analgesics, Opioid
  • Nerve Agents
  • Organophosphates
  • Fentanyl