Platinum Black/Gold Nanoparticles/Polyaniline Modified Electrochemical Microneedle Sensors for Continuous In Vivo Monitoring of pH Value

Abstract

Continuous in vivo monitoring (CIVM) of pH value is essential for personalized medicine, as many diseases are closely related to acid–base imbalances. However, conventional pH meters are limited in their ability to perform CIVM due to excessive blood consumption, large device volume, frequent calibration, and inadequate real-time monitoring. There is thus an urgent need for a portable method for CIVM of pH value. To address this need, we propose a minimally invasive, continuous monitoring solution in the form of an implantable pH microneedle sensor (MNS) in this study. The MNS is based on the integration of an acupuncture needle (AN) and a Ag/AgCl reference electrode. We fabricate the sensor by electrochemically depositing platinum black and gold nanoparticles onto the AN and further modifying it with polyaniline to increase its sensitivity to hydrogen ions. The pH value is obtained by calculating the open circuit voltage between the modified AN and the reference electrode. The resulting MNS demonstrates excellent selectivity and a high nernstian response to pH (−57.4 mV per pH) over a broad range (pH = 4.0 to pH = 9.0). Both in vitro and in vivo experiments have verified the performance of the sensor, showcasing its potential for biomedical research and clinical practice. The MNS provides an alternative to conventional pH meters, offering a less invasive and more convenient way to perform CIVM of pH value. Moreover, this electrochemical implantable sensor based on AN and silver wires provides a simple and sensitive method for continuous in vivo detection of other biomarkers.