Engineering flexible dopamine biosensors: blended EGylated conjugated and radical polymers in organic electrochemical transistors

Abstract We demonstrate an enhancement in the figure of merit (μC*) of a flexible organic electrochemical transistor (OECT) and its dopamine (DA) biosensor by blending various open-shell, non-conjugated radical polymers featuring nitroxide radical active sites as pendant groups with closed-shell, et...

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Main Authors: Dinh Cung Tien Nguyen, Quyen Vu Thi, Quynh H. Nguyen, Jaehyoung Ko, Hoyeon Lee, Bryan Boudouris, Seung-Yeol Jeon, Yongho Joo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:npj Flexible Electronics
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41528-025-00412-9
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author Dinh Cung Tien Nguyen
Quyen Vu Thi
Quynh H. Nguyen
Jaehyoung Ko
Hoyeon Lee
Bryan Boudouris
Seung-Yeol Jeon
Yongho Joo
author_facet Dinh Cung Tien Nguyen
Quyen Vu Thi
Quynh H. Nguyen
Jaehyoung Ko
Hoyeon Lee
Bryan Boudouris
Seung-Yeol Jeon
Yongho Joo
author_sort Dinh Cung Tien Nguyen
collection DOAJ
description Abstract We demonstrate an enhancement in the figure of merit (μC*) of a flexible organic electrochemical transistor (OECT) and its dopamine (DA) biosensor by blending various open-shell, non-conjugated radical polymers featuring nitroxide radical active sites as pendant groups with closed-shell, ethylene glycol (EG)-functionalized conjugated polymers as a macromolecular active layer system. The precisely controlled ionic transport of the OECT by the radical polymer modulated the doping level of the EGylated polymer, ensuring well-regulated redox activity and resulting in μC* values exceeding 192 F V-¹ cm-¹ s-¹, along with an on/off ratio of 104. Additionally, we achieved an ultrasensitive detection limit for DA at the clinically relevant level of 1 pM, along with exceptional specificity, effectively distinguishing DA even in the presence of a substantial excess of interfering substances. These findings underscore the potential of a systematic design approach for developing an advanced, flexible OECT-based biosensor platform through the strategic selection and processing of open- and closed-shell macromolecules.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2397-4621
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
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series npj Flexible Electronics
spelling doaj-art-84ae4467fa4e4748b783ad64e2cbe8fa2025-08-20T03:52:19ZengNature Portfolionpj Flexible Electronics2397-46212025-05-019111210.1038/s41528-025-00412-9Engineering flexible dopamine biosensors: blended EGylated conjugated and radical polymers in organic electrochemical transistorsDinh Cung Tien Nguyen0Quyen Vu Thi1Quynh H. Nguyen2Jaehyoung Ko3Hoyeon Lee4Bryan Boudouris5Seung-Yeol Jeon6Yongho Joo7Institute of Advanced Composite Materials, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST)Institute of Advanced Composite Materials, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST)Institute of Advanced Composite Materials, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST)Institute of Advanced Composite Materials, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST)Institute of Advanced Composite Materials, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST)Charles D. Davidson School of Chemical Engineering, 480 Stadium Mall Drive, Purdue UniversityInstitute of Advanced Composite Materials, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST)Institute of Advanced Composite Materials, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST)Abstract We demonstrate an enhancement in the figure of merit (μC*) of a flexible organic electrochemical transistor (OECT) and its dopamine (DA) biosensor by blending various open-shell, non-conjugated radical polymers featuring nitroxide radical active sites as pendant groups with closed-shell, ethylene glycol (EG)-functionalized conjugated polymers as a macromolecular active layer system. The precisely controlled ionic transport of the OECT by the radical polymer modulated the doping level of the EGylated polymer, ensuring well-regulated redox activity and resulting in μC* values exceeding 192 F V-¹ cm-¹ s-¹, along with an on/off ratio of 104. Additionally, we achieved an ultrasensitive detection limit for DA at the clinically relevant level of 1 pM, along with exceptional specificity, effectively distinguishing DA even in the presence of a substantial excess of interfering substances. These findings underscore the potential of a systematic design approach for developing an advanced, flexible OECT-based biosensor platform through the strategic selection and processing of open- and closed-shell macromolecules.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41528-025-00412-9
spellingShingle Dinh Cung Tien Nguyen
Quyen Vu Thi
Quynh H. Nguyen
Jaehyoung Ko
Hoyeon Lee
Bryan Boudouris
Seung-Yeol Jeon
Yongho Joo
Engineering flexible dopamine biosensors: blended EGylated conjugated and radical polymers in organic electrochemical transistors
npj Flexible Electronics
title Engineering flexible dopamine biosensors: blended EGylated conjugated and radical polymers in organic electrochemical transistors
title_full Engineering flexible dopamine biosensors: blended EGylated conjugated and radical polymers in organic electrochemical transistors
title_fullStr Engineering flexible dopamine biosensors: blended EGylated conjugated and radical polymers in organic electrochemical transistors
title_full_unstemmed Engineering flexible dopamine biosensors: blended EGylated conjugated and radical polymers in organic electrochemical transistors
title_short Engineering flexible dopamine biosensors: blended EGylated conjugated and radical polymers in organic electrochemical transistors
title_sort engineering flexible dopamine biosensors blended egylated conjugated and radical polymers in organic electrochemical transistors
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41528-025-00412-9
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