Selective detection of a catecholamine against electroactive interferents using an interdigitated heteroarray electrode consisting of a metal oxide electrode and a metal band electrode.

We developed an interdigitated array electrode (IDAE) consisting of a metal oxide electrode and a metal band heteroelectrode and employed it for the selective detection of catecholamines. We used an indium-tin oxide (ITO) film as the oxidation electrode of the IDAE because the ITO was able to suppress response currents from L-ascorbic acid (AA) and uric acid (UA), which are major electroactive interferents in biological fluids. However, the ITO film also suppresses the reduction of quinones including oxidized catecholamines. We developed a simple technique for fabricating our hetero IDAE, which also preserves the electrochemical properties of the ITO. When we compared hetero ITO-gold, homo ITO-ITO, and carbon-carbon IDAEs, we found that the hetero IDAE provided both high sensitivity and selectivity for DA detection. We achieved high selectivities for DA against AA and UA. The ratios of the response currents of AA and UA to DA were calculated as 6 and 5%, respectively.