Micro-evaporators for kinetic exploration of phase diagrams

We use pervaporation-based microfluidic devices to concentrate species in aqueous solutions with spatial and temporal control of the process. Using experiments and modelling, we quantitatively describe the advection-diffusion behavior of the concentration field of various solutions (electrolytes, colloids, etc) and demonstrate the potential of these devices as universal tools for the kinetic exploration of the phases and textures that form upon concentration

Cholinesterase based amperometric biosensors for assay of anticholinergic compounds

Biosensors are analytical devices being approachable for multiple analytes assay. Here, biosensors with intercepted acetylcholinesterase (AChE) or butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) are presented as tool for assay of anticholinergic compounds such as pesticides, nerve agents and some natural toxins. Principle of assay is based on evaluation of cholinesterase activity and its pertinent decrease in presence of analyte. Nerve agents, pesticides, anticholinergic drugs useable for treatment of Alzheimer′s disease as well as myasthenia gravis and aflatoxins are enlisted as compounds simply analyzable by cholinesterase biosensors

A flow-through amperometric sensor based on dialysis tubing and free enzyme reactors

A generic flow-through amperometric microenzyme sensor is described, which is based on semi-permeable dialysis tubing carrying the sample to be analyzed. This tubing (300 μm OD) is led through a small cavity, containing the working and reference electrode. By filling this cavity with a few μl of an appropriate enzyme solution, an amperometric enzyme sensor results. As the dialysis tubing is impermeable for large molecular species such as enzymes, this approach does not require any immobilization chemistry, and as a consequence the enzyme is present in its natural free form. Based on this principle, amperometric sensors for lactate, glucose, and glutamate were formed by filling cavities, precision machined in Perspex®, with buffered solutions containing respectively, lactate-, glucose-, and glutamate-oxidase. All sensors showed a large linear range (0–35 mM for glucose, 0–3 mM for lactate, and 0–5 mM for glutamate) covering the complete physiological range. The lower detection limit was in the order of 15–50 μM. Applicability in flow injection analysis systems is demonstrated

Electrical characterization of ISFETs

Methodology of electrical characterization of ISFETs has been described. It is based on a three-stage approach. First, electrical measurements of ISFET-like MOSFETs and extraction of basic parameters of the MOSFET compact model are performed. Next, mapping of the ISFET channel conductances and a number of other characteristic parameters is carried out using a semi-automatic testing setup. Finally, ISFET sensitivity to solution pH is evaluated. The methodology is applied to characterize ISFETs fabricated in the Institute of Electron Technology (IET)