Use of microelectrodes for electrochemiluminescent detection in microfluidic devices

Bioanalysis. 2009 Apr;1(1):31-6. doi: 10.4155/bio.09.1.

Abstract

Microfluidic devices allow for fast detection with little reagent consumption. They also offer portability and the ability to mimic biological systems. Currently, many microfluidic devices are a hybrid of the microchip components, such as flow channels and wells, and larger instrumentation. There is a need to develop miniaturized detectors for lab-on-a-chip applications. Electrochemical detection methods have the advantage of ease of miniaturization. The electrochemical method, electrochemiluminescence, has the potential to be miniaturized and incorporated into a lab-on-a-chip device. As in other electrochemical methods, electrochemiluminescence is straightforward to miniaturize, but also possesses the sensitivity of a fluorescence detection method. In our laboratory, we have been developing carbon ink microelectrodes as the working electrode for a miniaturized electrochemiluminescence system. Since the signal is proportional to the electrode area, the challenge has been to maximize the signal-to-noise ratio and maintain low detection limits as the electrode size decreases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Electrochemical Techniques* / instrumentation
  • Electrochemical Techniques* / methods
  • Equipment Design
  • Fluorescence
  • Limit of Detection
  • Luminescence*
  • Microchip Analytical Procedures
  • Microelectrodes*
  • Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / instrumentation*
  • Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / methods*
  • Miniaturization*