The Polymer Society of Korea

Abstract

Creatinine is a metabolic waste product from muscle activity, excreted by the kidneys, and a key biomarker for assessing renal function. Accurate monitoring of creatinine is essential for early detection of kidney dysfunction. However, conventional methods, such as enzyme-based biosensors, suffer from drawbacks including low stability, poor reproducibility, and susceptibility to interference in complex biological environments. To overcome these limitations, molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have attracted interest. In particular, these synthetic receptors provide high selectivity and resist degradation and environmental interference, making them well-suited for creatinine sensing. In this study, an electrochemical sensor was developed by photopolymerizing an MIP layer on a gold substrate. This sensor, which operates based on creatinine levels in the blood, electrically measures minute changes in impedance caused by repetitive adsorption and desorption of creatinine molecules onto molecularly imprinted sites of polymer matrix.