Nanofiber enhanced carbon cloth based flexible Miniaturized electrodes for Real-Time and specific insulin detection in blood serum

Abstract

The development of sensitive and specific biosensors for real-time insulin monitoring is crucial for advancing diabetes management and improving patient outcomes. This study reports the fabrication of flexible electrodes based on titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanofiber-enhanced carbon cloth (CC) for the real-time, selective picomolar range of detection of insulin in blood serum. TiO2 nanofibers significantly increase the electrodes surface area and electron transfer capabilities, enhancing sensitivity and enabling rapid response times essential for real-time monitoring. The flexibility and mechanical stability of the carbon cloth substrate make it ideal for wearable and implantable biosensors, addressing limitations of conventional sensors, such as inadequate sensitivity, delayed response times, rigidity, and non-specific binding. The enhanced properties of the TiO2 nanofiber-modified carbon cloth composite facilitate the detection of low insulin concentrations, essential for early diagnosis and continuous monitoring in diabetes care. The robust TiO2 nanofibers and durable carbon cloth ensure sustained performance in complex biological environments. Chronoamperometry (CA) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) techniques are used to examine the electrocatalytic activity of the fabricated sensor, assessing parameters like pH, electrode resistance, concentration, and scan rate. While fasting, the normal range of insulin ranges from 12 to 150 pM. This sensor detects insulin in the 7 pM to 1000 pM range, with a detection limit of 2.7 pM and a quantification limit of 8.7 pM. Portability is validated using a handheld smartphone-based potentiostat. This developed miniaturized sensor provides a selective, interference-mitigated response for insulin detection in human serum, demonstrating significant advancements in flexible electrochemical sensor technology with crucial implications for diabetes care.