Disposable paper-based electrochemical metal ion sensors for water safety testing

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This Phase I application aims at developing a generalizable electrochemical biosensing platform for detection of metal ions in water. Specifically, the main objective of the project is to validate the design of a convenient, cost-effective electrochemical ion (E-ION) sensing platform for direct detection of metal ion contaminants such as mercury (Hg2+), silver (Ag+), and copper (Cu2+) in drinking water. While previously developed metal ions sensors have been demonstratedto possess exceptional sensitivity and selectivity, no generalizable sensor architecture that is applicable to the detectin of a wide range of metal ions has been realized to date. The E- ION sensor's signaling mechanism relies on the dampening of the DNArecognition probe dynamics upon target binding which involves inter-strand metal complexation, thereby creating a sensor that is inherently signal-off when interrogated using alternating current voltammetry. However, by varying the applied frequenc