Highly Sensitive Membrane-Based Pressure Sensors (MePS) for Real-Time Monitoring of Catalytic Reactions

• Published in: Analytical chemistry (Washington) Vol. 90; no. 12; pp. 7659 - 7665
• Main Authors: Zizzari, Alessandra, Bianco, Monica, del Mercato, Loretta L, Sorarù, Antonio, Carraro, Mauro, Pellegrino, Paolo, Perrone, Elisabetta, Monteduro, Anna G, Bonchio, Marcella, Rinaldi, Rosaria, Viola, Ilenia, Arima, Valentina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Chemical Society 19-06-2018
• Subjects: Analytical chemistry; Biocompatibility; Biosensors; Catalase; Catalysis; Catalytic oxidation; Chemical reactions; Chemistry; Hydrogen peroxide; Membranes; Monitoring; Multilayers; Organic chemistry; Polydimethylsiloxane; Polyelectrolytes; Pressure sensors; Reproducibility
• ISSN: 0003-2700; 1520-6882
• DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.8b01531

Functional, flexible, and integrated lab-on-chips, based on elastic membranes, are capable of fine response to external stimuli, so to pave the way for many applications as multiplexed sensors for a wide range of chemical, physical and biomedical processes. Here, we report on the use of elastic thin membranes (TMs), integrated with a reaction chamber, to fabricate a membrane-based pressure sensor (MePS) for reaction monitoring. In particular, the TM becomes the key-element in the design of a highly sensitive MePS capable to monitor gaseous species production in dynamic and temporally fast processes with high resolution and reproducibility. Indeed, we demonstrate the use of a functional MePS integrating a 2 μm thick polydimethylsiloxane TM by monitoring the dioxygen evolution resulting from catalytic hydrogen peroxide dismutation. The operation of the membrane, explained using a diffusion-dominated model, is demonstrated on two similar catalytic systems with catalase-like activity, assembled into polyelectrolyte multilayers capsules. The MePS, tested in a range between 2 and 50 Pa, allows detecting a dioxygen variation of the μmol L–1 s–1 order. Due to their structural features, flexibility of integration, and biocompatibility, the MePSs are amenable of future development within advanced lab-on-chips.