Sensor of transdermal biomarkers for blood perfusion monitoring

Abstract

A nanoporous gold electrocatalytic technique has been reported for detection of gas-phase hydrogen sulfide (H2S) molecules at trace levels relevant to physiological measurements. H2S is a known biomarker generated within the walls of arteries and can be linked to peripheral artery disease (PAD) and small vessel disease (SVD). The detection technique presented herein demonstrates suitability of transdermal monitoring of H2S linked to perfusion rate in order to provide early detection of PAD and SVD. The high surface area and high reactivity rate of nanoporous electrocatalyst in the present device proved to yield a significant amperometric signal for detection of hydrogen sulfide with a limit of detection as low as 2 ppb. Using this approach, permeability of hydrogen sulfide through the skin of Sprague Dawley rats in both excised in-vitro conditions as well as in-vivo experiments were demonstrated.