Development of a solid-state potentiometric heparin sensing cartridge based on photocrosslinked decyl methacrylate

A novel solid-state potentiometric sensing cartridge for detecting the polyanionic anticoagulant drug heparin is introduced. The device is based on photocrosslinked decyl methacrylate (DIMA) polyanion-sensitive films covalently immobilized over screen-printed silver epoxy electrodes. The fabrication and optimization of such a sensing arrangement are discussed. In accordance with potentiometric polyion response theory, a sensitive response to heparin can be achieved by decreasing the amounts of ion-exchanger, plasticizer, and crosslinker in the membrane. A novel hydrophilic copolymer can be used as an internal layer to improve EMF reproducibility. Clinical levels of heparin can be detected in as little as 50 μL of whole blood