Exploration of a Reliable and Robust Reference Electrode for Point-of-Care Diagnostic Devices

Electrochemical sensing for point-of-care (POC) diagnostics has emerged as a heavily studied field. Many groups have developed novel sensors and devices utilizing low-cost materials, highly selective recognition elements, and rapid responses which detect a vast number of biomarkers and pharmaceuticals. The sensor(s) of a POC device is the priority for selectively sensing a particular molecule/ion, but all electrochemical cells require additional electrodes (e.g., counter and reference) for performing measurements. In regard to a counter electrode many low-cost alternatives have been utilized, but a reliable and robust reference electrode has been the primary challenge for many diagnostic devices. In a laboratory setting, commercial references electrodes are heavily used for electrochemical analysis, but at the POC, commercial reference electrodes are not suitable since they are bulky, expensive, and require continual maintenance. In this presentation an alternative to commercial reference electrodes is studied. The fabrication and optimization of a 3D printed reference membrane was explored. A variety of compositions were tested for the development of a robust and reliable reference electrode that could be into a POC device coupled with a 3D printed sensor.