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Device Technologies and Biomedical Robotics

Device Technologies and Biomedical Robotics - Poster Session C & D

R34 - The Use of Copper Metal-Organic Frameworks for Point-of-Care Creatinine Sensing

Friday, October 10, 2025

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM PDT

Location: Exhibit Hall F, G & H

Presenting Author(s)

Lauren K. Mabe

Undergraduate Researcher
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, United States

Co-Author(s)

AD

Ashley Dehn

Undergraduate Researcher
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill & North Carolina State University, United States
Charlie Capitano

Undergraduate Researcher
North Carolina State University, United States
JL

Jennifer Lopez

Undergraduate Researcher
North Carolina State University, United States
AA

Ameerah Abazid

Undergraduate Researcher
North Carolina State University, United States
Lily Ro

Undergraduate Researcher
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill & North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina, United States
CS

Christopher Sharkey

Graduate Student Researcher
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill & North Carolina State University, United States
IA

Isabella G. Agusta

Undergraduate Researcher
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill & North Carolina State University, United States
JL

Jacob Linnabary

Undergraduate Researcher
North Carolina State University, United States
KP

Kaila Peterson

Graduate Student Researcher
North Carolina State University, United States
JT

Jack Twiddy

Postdoctoral Researcher at UNC-CH - NCSU Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill & North Carolina State University, United States
SM

Stefano Menegatti

Professor & University Faculty Scholar
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina, United States

Last Author(s)

MD

Michael Daniele

Faculty Researcher
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill & North Carolina State University, United States

Primary Investigator(s)

MD

Michael Daniele

Faculty Researcher
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill & North Carolina State University, United States

Introduction: : Acute Kidney Injury (AKI), a sudden and potentially fatal condition, affects over 13.3 million people globally every year (1). This condition refers to the sudden loss of kidney function, which normally filters waste and excess fluids from the bloodstream. AKI commonly occurs as a result of major surgeries or injuries, and if not caught quickly, can lead to dangerous complications or even death. Creatinine, a byproduct of muscle metabolism, is commonly monitored to assess kidney health, with elevated levels indicating impaired function. While current testing methods are accurate, they are also expensive and time-intensive. As a result, there is a need to utilize point-of-care (POC) biosensing techniques, which present cheap, quick, and user-friendly methods to sense creatinine, allowing for earlier diagnosis. Our electrochemical biosensor aims to detect creatinine concentration in interstitial fluid (ISF) by utilizing the natural formation of copper-creatinine complexes (2). As such, our sensor uses a Cu-TCPP metal-organic framework (MOF) as the biorecognition element, leveraging its tunable porosity and high selectivity for creatinine (3).

Materials and

Methods: : Cu-TCPP MOF was formed through a solvothermal reaction of Cu(NO3)2, 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin (H2TCPP), and a solvent mixture. To create a liquid suspension, Cu-TCPP MOF was ultrasonicated in a 2:1 MOF to solvent ratio, with milliQ and Nafion (in a 20:1 ratio) acting as the solvent. To validate the use of a Cu-TCPP MOF in sensing creatinine, cyclic voltammetry (CV) was run using a glassy carbon working electrode, Ag/AgCl reference electrode, and platinum counter electrode in buffer solution. 10 uL of the Cu-TCPP MOF suspension was drop-cast onto the glassy carbon electrode, and CV was subsequently run in incrementally increasing creatinine concentrations across various scan rates. Creatinine concentration was quantified based on the current response at the observed oxidation peak. To painlessly retrieve ISF from the body, a 12x12 microneedle array synthesized from a 4% methacrylated hyaluronic acid (MeHA) solution pulls ISF through a paper fluidic channel via an osmotic pump, allowing it to efficiently reach the sensing area.

Results, Conclusions, and Discussions:: When cyclic voltammetry (CV) is performed using a copper-deposited glassy carbon working electrode in 1x PBS across various creatinine concentrations, two oxidative peaks are observed (Figure 1). The first peak corresponds to the oxidation of free copper ions, while the second peak corresponds to the formation of Cu(II)-creatinine complexes. The presence of the first peak suggests the instability of copper deposition through the release of copper ions from the sensing site, posing toxicity and sensor degradation concerns. This highlights the need to suspend our copper sensing element within a MOF. Transition metals such as copper have vacant d orbitals, which allow them to form coordination complexes with the nitrogen and/or oxygen atoms of organic ligands, the same property that allows copper to form a complex with the endocyclic nitrogen of creatinine. As such, the synthesis of a copper-based MOF improves the specificity and stability of copper. The presence of a single oxidative peak at 0.0763 V verifies the formation of Cu(II)-creatinine complexes while confirming the stability of copper within the MOF (Figure 2). Creatinine calibration curves were created by utilizing the average oxidative peak location to assess the current response across samples, displaying clear trends that validate the reliability of our MOF-based sensor (Figure 3). The use of crosslinked 4% MeHA microneedles were verified using synthetic skin models, as the microneedles successfully pierced and drew ISF through a paper fluidic channel to the sensing site. Distinctly, the unique combination of a Cu-TCPP MOF biorecognition element and MeHA-based microneedles offer a robust method for the point-of-care sensing of creatinine.

Acknowledgements and/or References (Optional): : (1) https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0270929523001766
(2) https://doi.org/10.1149/1945-7111/ac5346
(3) https://doi.org/10.1021/ja307953m