Automated electrochemical oxygen sensing using a 3D-printed microfluidic lab-on-a-chip system

Abstract

Dissolved oxygen is crucial for metabolism, growth, and other complex physiological and pathological processes; however, standard physiological models (such as organ-on-chip systems) often use ambient oxygen levels, which do not reflect the lower levels that are typically found in vivo. Additionally, the local generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS; a key factor in physiological systems) is often overlooked in biology-mimicking models. Here, we present a microfluidic system that integrates electrochemical dissolved oxygen sensors with lab-on-a-chip technology to monitor the physiological oxygen concentrations and generate hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂; a specific ROS). This microfluidic lab-on-a-chip system was fabricated using high-resolution 3D printing technology in a one-step process. It incorporates a micromixer, an on-chip bubble-trap, an electrochemical cell with fabricated gold or platinum black-coated working electrodes as well as an Ag/AgCl reference electrode, and a commercial optical oxygen sensor for validation. This device enables an automated variation of the oxygen levels as well as sensitive electrochemical oxygen monitoring (limit of detection = 11.9 ± 0.3 μM), with a statistically significant correlation with the optical sensor. The proposed system can serve as a tool to characterize and evaluate custom-made electrodes. Indeed, we envision that in the future it will be used to regulate dissolved oxygen levels and oxygen species in real time in organ-on-chip systems.