Electrochemical detection of blood alcohol concentration using a disposable biosensor based on screen-printed electrode modified with Nafion and gold nanoparticles.

Blood alcohol determination plays an important role in laboratory medicine and forensic medicine. Nowadays, many methods are being used for alcohol measurement, but these methods are time-consuming and complex to perform laborious sample pre-treatment. The disposable amperometric biosensor, due to its portability, low cost and potential for fabrication, should be readily applicable for blood alcohol determination. The biosensor was fabricated by immobilizing alcohol dehydrogenase and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide coated by Nafion combined with gold nanoparticles onto the surface of screen-printed electrode modified with Meldola's blue. Evaluations of biosensor performance were performed according to the relevant National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards standard. The biosensor response for serum alcohol presents good linearity, precision, stability, accuracy, and specificity. The biosensor exhibits the capability of detecting blood alcohol concentration in the clinical laboratory and in forensic medicine, unnecessarily performing laborious sample pre-treatment.