Sodium dodecyl sulfate-modified electrochemical paper-based analytical device for determination of dopamine levels in biological samples

We report the development of an electrochemical paper-based analytical device (ePAD) for the selective determination of dopamine (DA) in model serum sample. The ePAD device consists of three layers. In the top layer, SU-8 photoresist defines a hydrophilic sample application spot on the filter paper. The middle layer was made from transparency film and contained two holes, one for sample preconcentration and the other for the surfactant to allow transfer to the third layer. A screen-printed carbon electrode formed the bottom layer and was used for electrochemical measurements. In the absence of the anionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), the oxidation peaks of DA, ascorbic acid (AA) and uric acid (UA) overlapped. With the addition of SDS, the DA oxidation peak shifted to more negative values and was clearly distinguishable from AA and UA. The oxidation potential shift was presumably due to preferential electrostatic interactions between the cationic DA and the anionic SDS. Indeed, whilst the SDS-modified paper improved the DA current five-fold, the non-ionic Tween-20 and cationic tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide surfactants had no effect or reduced the current, respectively. Furthermore, only the SDS-modified paper showed the selective shift in oxidation potential for DA. DA determination was carried out using square-wave voltammetry between −0.2 and 0.8 V vs. Ag/AgCl, and this ePAD was able to detect DA over a linear range of 1–100 μM with a detection limit (S/N = 3) of 0.37 μM. The ePAD seems suitable as a low cost, easy-to-use, portable device for the selective quantitation of DA in human serum samples.

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► Selective detection of dopamine over uric acid and ascorbic acid in serum.
► Multilayer electrochemical paper-based analytical device constructed for preconcentration and detection of biological molecules in complex matrix.
► Novel preconcentration mechanism based on electrostatic interactions between dopamine and sodium dodecyl sulfate.