Desenvolvimento de sensores eletroquímicos/colorimétricos e metodologias analíticas automatizadas em plataforma de microfluídica digital para aplicações em química bioanalítica

Abstract

The field of microfabrication dedicated to the development of portable and environmentally friendly analytical devices, in the context of electrochemical and colorimetric sensors, has expanded considerably in recent years. Furthermore, digital microfluidic (DMF) technology has emerged as an automated analytical platform, both for sample preparation and for the detection of numerous analytes, as it can be integrated with a range of detectors. The aforementioned analytical platforms are attributed to a spectrum of application possibilities, which comprehensively involve clinical, pharmaceutical, bioanalytical, and petrochemical fields, for example. In this context, the current thesis presents innovations in electrochemical, colorimetric, and DMF analytical platforms for applications aimed at quality control of pharmaceutical products, clinics, and the petrochemical industry. To this end, the following analytical devices and approaches were introduced and successfully applied: (i) an environmentally friendly electrochemical device for COVID-19 diagnosis, (ii) a new miniaturized and disposable electrochemical sensor for cystic fibrosis diagnosis, (iii) the integration of paper-based electrochemical analytical devices and DMF for plasma extraction, followed by the analysis of L-cysteine (an Alzheimer’s biomarker), and (iv) a new portable and environmentally friendly colorimetric device for the detection of sodium vinyl sulfonate in produced water samples, aiming at the detection of scale inhibitors.