Portable Microfluidic Devices-Based Nanosensors for Detection of Mercury and Cadmium in Blood Plasma
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32792/jmed.2025.29.32Keywords:
Heavy metals, Microfluidics, Nano structure, Hg²⁺ detection, Cd²⁺ detection.Abstract
Heavy metals such as cadmium (Cd²⁺), mercury (Hg²⁺), and lead (Pb²⁺) areconsidered some of the most dangerous environmental pollutants due to their high
toxicity and cumulative effects on human health and the environment. With the
increasing need for precise, rapid, and highly sensitive detection technologies, the
integration of nanomaterials with microfluidic techniques has emerged as one of
the effective solutions in developing advanced sensing systems
Nanomaterials provide unique properties such as high surface area and distinctive
electrochemical and optical characteristics, enabling them to capture heavy metal
ions with exceptional efficiency. When integrated into microfluidic platforms
(Lab-on-a-Chip), a precise analytical environment is achieved, enabling detection
using minimal amounts of samples and reagents, with a short analysis time.
These systems are characterized by their ability for on-site detection. Various
characterization measurements such as UV, XRD, FESEM, TEM, FT-IR, and
Zeta Potential were conducted to characterize the nanoparticles. The study
indicated that the best elements used for detecting heavy metals in blood plasma
are zinc oxide and copper. This integration is considered one of the promising
recent trends in the field of environmental monitoring and precise medical
analysis.
References
Balali-Mood, M., et al., Toxic mechanisms of five heavy metals: mercury, lead,
chromium, cadmium, and arsenic. Frontiers in pharmacology, 2021. 12: p. 643972.
Al-Aqbi, Z.T., Yap, Y.C., Li, F. and Breadmore, M.C. Integrated microfluidic devices fabricated in poly (methyl methacrylate)
(PMMA) for on-site therapeutic drug monitoring of aminoglycosides in whole blood. Biosensors, 2019. 9(1): p.19[3] Viegas, S., C.
Martins, and R. Assunção, Human biomonitoring (HBM) as a tool to support policy and regulatory action to prevent chemicals
exposure. 2024, Frontiers Media SA. p. 1376890.
Ma, L., et al., A new thiacalix [4] arene-based metal-organic framework as an efficient electrochemical sensor for trace detection
of Cd2+ and Pb2+. Food Chemistry, 2024. 441: p. 138352.
Wang, Y., et al., Detection of Ultra-Trace Heavy metals in Aerosols with pg^ m3 Sensitivity Using Filament-Induced Fluorescence
Spectroscopy. arXiv preprint arXiv:2506.09295, 2025.
Andoh, P.K.D., Development of Novel Electrochemical Sensor to Detect Heavy Metals Cadmium, Lead and Chromium. 2025,
Wright State University.
Fakayode, S.O., et al., Electrochemical and colorimetric nanosensors for detection of heavy metal ions: a review. Sensors, 2023.
(22): p. 9080.
Rai, M., A. Yadav, and A. Gade, Silver nanoparticles as a new generation of
antimicrobials. Biotechnology advances, 2009. 27(1): p. 76-83.
Wang, H., et al., Preparation of silver nanoparticles by chemical reduction method. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and
Engineering Aspects, 2005. 256(23):p. 111-115.
Pricop, A., et al., Copper Nanoparticles Synthesized by Chemical Reduction with Medical Applications. International Journal of
Molecular Sciences, 2025. 26(4): p. 1628.
Logutenko, O., et al., A novel method to prepare copper microspheres via chemical reduction route. Journal of Materials Research
and Technology, 2021. 13: p. 1254-1265.
Anjum, S., et al., Recent advances in zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) for cancer diagnosis, target drug delivery, and treatment.
Cancers, 2021. 13(18): p. 4570.
Moussa, N., et al., Chromium doped ZnO nanoparticles for energy storage, gas and humidity sensing and spin based electronic
devices applications. Optical and Quantum Electronics, 2022. 54(11): p. 683.
Hegde, V.N., Study on structural, morphological, elastic and electrical properties of ZnO nanoparticles for electronic device
applications. Journal of Science: Advanced Materials and Devices, 2024. 9(3): p. 100733 .
Han, X., et al., Polymer-based microfluidic devices: a comprehensive review on preparation and applications. Polymer Engineering
& Science, 2022. 62(1): p. 3-24.
Nie, C., I. Shaw, and C. Chen, Application of microfluidic technology based on surface-enhanced Raman scattering in cancer
biomarker detection: A review. Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis, 2023. 13(12): p. 1429-1451.
Liu, W., H. Cheng, and X. Wang, Skin-interfaced colorimetric microfluidic devices for on-demand sweat analysis. npj Flexible
Electronics, 2023. 7(1): p. 43.
Al-aqbi, Z.T., Abdulsahib, H.T. and Al-Doghachi, F.A.. A Portable Microfluidic Device-Based Colorimetric Naked-Eye Sensors
for Determination ofMercury and Arsenic Ions in River Water Samples. Plasmonics, 2024. pp.1-22.
Charkiewicz, A.E., et al., Cadmium toxicity and health effects—a brief summary. Molecules, 2023. 28(18): p. 6620.
AL-AQBI, Z.T., ALBISHRI, A., HUSSEIN, F.H., ALBUKHATY, S., SULAIMAN, G.M., KHALIL, K.A. and AHMED, E.M. A
new 3D printing milli-fluidic device with integrated nanojunction for on-site colorimetric analysis of iron in water and soil samples.
Chinese Journal of AnalyticalChemistry, 2025. 53(1), p.100475.
Shahwan, T., et al., Green synthesis of iron nanoparticles and their application as a Fenton-like catalyst for the degradation of
aqueous cationic and anionic dyes. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2011. 172(1): p. 258-266.
Mojgan Ebadi, a.M.R.Z., a Seyyed Soheil Aghaei,a Mohsen Zargar,a and b.H.S.Z.a.K.A.N. Morvarid Shafiei, A bio-inspired
strategy for the synthesis of zincoxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) using the cell extractocyanobacterium Nostoc sp. EA03: from
Ani Qomariyah*, A.K.H., Synthesis of Copper Nanoparticles Using Dragon Fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus) Extract as a Bio
Sadia, B.O., J.K. Cherutoi, and C.M. Achisa, Optimization, characterization, and antibacterial activity of copper nanoparticles
synthesized using senna didymobotrya root extract. Journal of Nanotechnology, 2021. 2021(1): p. 5611434.
Ambati, T., et al., Efficacy of copper oxide nanoparticles using Piper longum and Piper betle. Bioinformation, 2023. 19(9): p. 964.
Almoneef, M.M., et al., Exploring the multi-faceted potential: Synthesized ZnO nanostructure–Characterization, photocatalysis,
and crucial biomedical applications. Heliyon, 2024. 10(12)
Ibrahim, F.M., D.A. Najeeb, and H. ThamerSadeq, Green preparation of Cu nanoparticles of the avocado seed extract as an
adsorbent surface. Materials Science for Energy Technologies, 2023. 6: p. 130-136.
Godse, J.S., et al., Synthesis Characterization and Antimicrobial Activity of Copper Oxide Nanoparticles Using Sol-Gel Method.
Clinical Interventions and Clinical Trials, BRS Publishers, 2023. 1(1): p. 2993-1096.
Roy, S., R. Priyadarshi, and J.-W. Rhim, Development of multifunctional pullulan/chitosan-based composite films reinforced with
ZnO nanoparticles and propolis for meat packaging applications. Foods, 2021. 10(11): p. 2789.
Sadia, B.O., J.K. Cherutoi, and C.M. Achisa, Optimization, characterization, and antibacterial activity of copper nanoparticles
synthesized using senna didymobotrya root extract. Journal of Nanotechnology, 2021. 2021(1): p. 5611434.
Khan, M., P. Ware, and N. Shimpi, Synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles using peels of Passiflora foetida and study of its activity as an
efficient catalyst for the degradation of hazardous organic dye. SN Applied Sciences, 2021. 3: p. 1-17.
Vijaya Kumar, P., A. Jafar Ahamed, and M. Karthikeyan, Synthesis and characterization of NiO
nanoparticles by chemical as well as green routes and their comparisons with respect to cytotoxic
effect and toxicity studies in microbial and MCF-7 cancer cell models. SN AppliedSciences, 2019. 1: p. 1-15.
Pasieczna-Patkowska, S., M. Cichy, and J. Flieger, Application of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy in
characterization of green synthesized nanoparticles. Molecules, 2025. 30(3): p. 684.
Thangeeswari, T., A.T. George, and A.A. Kumar, Optical properties and FTIR studies of cobalt
doped ZnO nanoparticles by simple solution method. Indian J. Sci. Technol, 2016. 9(1): p. 1-4.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Baheya Abdulbaqi Alaziz, Mundher Al-Shakban

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
