3D Printed Ion Selective Membranes for Solid and Liquid-Contact Point-of-Care Applications

Abstract

In this research 3D printing has been utilized in the fabrication of ion selective membranes (ISMs) for point-of-care (POC) diagnostics. 3D printing has been integrated into chemistry in many different areas to reduce cost, time of fabrication, and remove complexity in methodology. 3D printing ISMs has decreased the time of fabrication as well as the cost with the enhanced ability to mass produce customized membranes for a variety of applications. To demonstrate the broad utility of employing 3D printed ISMs, important analytes such as bilirubin (i.e., an important biomarker in the detection of hyperbilirubinemia) and benzalkonium (i.e., a common antimicrobial used in eye, ear, and nasal drops) have been detected with linear detection from 10 mM to 5 µM and 1 mM to 19 µM, respectively. 3D printed ISMs have also shown highly reproducible results with both conventional solid and liquid-contact ion selective electrodes as well as POC devices. Integrating 3D printing into ISM fabrication has led to the ability to fabricate a diagnostic panel rapidly and reproducibly for several analytes for POC applications.