Activated carbon derived from wood biochar for Amperometric sensing of Ammonia for early screening of chronic kidney disease

Int J Biol Macromol. 2023 Dec 31;253(Pt 3):126894. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.126894. Epub 2023 Sep 12.

Abstract

Personalized medicine has emerged as an increasingly efficient and effective approach to addressing disease diagnosis and intervention. Ammonia is a waste product produced by the body during the digestion of protein. The requirement to develop an electrochemical sensing platform for monitoring skin ammonia levels holds great potential as an essential solution to pre-screen chronic kidney disease (CKD). In this research, we have manufactured an innovative electrochemical sensor by employing activated carbon derived from wood biochar as the signal transducer. We conducted a comprehensive analysis of the structural and morphological characteristics of the synthesized materials using various techniques. The hypothesized interaction was investigated using chronoamperometry as a transduction technique. To assess cross-reactivity, we conducted a study using common interferants or chemicals present in the environment. The data presented in this paper represents three replicates and is plotted with a 5 % error bar, demonstrating a 95 % confidence interval in the sensor response. In this study, we have elucidated the functionality and usefulness of a wearable microelectronic research prototype integrated with an HTC-activated carbon @RTIL-based electrochemical sensing platform for detecting ammonia levels released from the skin as a marker for chronic kidney disease screening. By enabling early detection and monitoring, these platforms can facilitate timely interventions, such as lifestyle modifications, medication adjustments, or referral to nephrology specialists. This proactive approach can potentially slow down disease progression, minimize the need for dialysis or transplantation, and ultimately improve the quality of life for CKD patients.

Keywords: Ammonia; Biochar; Chronic kidney disease; Chronoamperometry; Electrochemical sensor; Internet of things; Room temperature ionic liquid.

MeSH terms

  • Ammonia*
  • Charcoal
  • Humans
  • Quality of Life
  • Renal Dialysis
  • Renal Insufficiency, Chronic* / diagnosis
  • Wood

Substances

  • Ammonia
  • biochar
  • Charcoal