For Mom and Baby Wellness, An Electrochemical Enzymatic Biosensor for Quantification of Glucose in Breast Milk Based on Laser-Induced Graphene Electrodes

Beyond the fact that human breast milk is nature's perfect food for newborns, it is also a rich biofluid containing potential biomarkers for various health conditions of breastfeeding moms. The field of breast milk analysis has witnessed the introduction of various products designed to support breastfeeding management. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has, for instance, authorized devices like the Miris Human Milk Analyzer for use in hospital settings to quantify breast milk nutrients. However, these instruments use infrared analyzers that are often large, expensive, and frequently require specialized training. Consequently, accessibility for parents in the home setting is limited and use is generally restricted to hospital laboratories and milk banks. Breast milk's glucose content presents a complex challenge for infant development. It's vital for brain development and growth, but high levels in overweight mothers raise concerns about perpetuating childhood obesity. Conversely, mothers with gestational diabetes have lower milk glucose, putting babies at risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) with potential long-term consequences. In this work, we present a point-of-care glucose electrochemical biosensor for glucose level detection in breast milk. The electrochemical electrodes were fabricated using, a precise, cost-effective, fast, scalable, safe, and highly reproducible laser-engraving method on polyimide film. we used Prussian blue PB as a mediator in the enzymatic sensor to enhance the reduction of hydrogen peroxide H2O2 that results from glucose and glucose oxidase reaction. PB helps in efficient hydrogen peroxide reduction at low electrochemical potential values leading to improved sensitivity and selectivity for enzymatic biosensors. PB was electrochemically deposited on the LIG surface. The GOx enzyme was deposited on the LIG+PB within a cocktail of bovine serum albumin BSA, glutaraldehyde GA, and Nafion. GA works as a crosslinker for GOx and BSA to provide a homogeneous and biocompatible membrane to maintain the functionality of the enzyme and improve its performance characteristics. This biosensor achieved high sensitivity and a low detection limit, allowing for accurate glucose measurement in complex samples like breast milk. The developed sensor exhibited robust accuracy in directly detecting glucose concentrations (96.8-104.1%) in real human milk samples collected at various stages of lactation (1st, 6th, and 12th months). These results highlight the potential of this technology for effective and non-invasive glucose monitoring in breast milk for moms and babyies wellness.