Reagentless Impedimetric Sensors Based on Aminophenylboronic Acids

Abstract

The review is dedicated to polymers of 2- and 3-aminophenylboronic acid. In contrast to the majority of other conducto- and impedimetric sensors, the ones developed by the authors can discriminate between specific and unspecific processes: conductivity as an analytical signal of the sensor is increasing upon specific binding being opposite to the result of an unspecific process. The increase of conductivity as a result of a specific process is demonstrated for the first time by our group, and the effect was confirmed by physicochemical investigations. The developed sensors are applicable to aerosol analysis as well as to aqueous media. Human whole sweat analysis performed by the sensors succeeded to determine the concentration of lactate (which is recognized as a hypoxia marker and the second important metabolite after in clinical diagnostics) in the range of 10−40 mM. The developed sensors are also applicable to reagentless mold detection in bioaerosols in the concentrations in the range 200−800 CFU/m³ that includes Russian hygienic standard for locality (500 CFU/m³).