Quantitative Spermidine Detection in Cosmetics using an Organic Transistor-Based Chemical Sensor

ChemistryOpen. 2024 Oct;13(10):e202400098. doi: 10.1002/open.202400098. Epub 2024 Sep 5.

Abstract

Spermidine is an essential biomarker related to antiaging. Although the detection of spermidine levels is in high demand in life science fields, easy-to-use analytical tools without sample purification have not yet been fully established. Herein, we propose an organic field-effect transistor-based chemical sensor for quantifying the spermidine concentration in commercial cosmetics. An extended-gate structure was employed for organic field-effect transistor (OFET)-based chemical sensing in aqueous media. A coordination-bond-based sensing system was introduced into the OFET device to visualize the spermidine detection information through changes in the transistor characteristics. The extended-gate-type OFET has shown quantitative responses to spermidine, which indicates sufficient detectability (i. e., the limit of detection for spermidine: 2.3 μM) considering actual concentrations in cosmetics. The applicability of the OFET-based chemical sensor for cosmetic analysis was validated by instrumental analysis using high-performance liquid chromatography. The estimated recovery rates for spermidine in cosmetic ingredient products (108-111 %) suggest the feasibility of cosmetic analysis based on the OFET-based chemical sensor.

Keywords: Amines; Cosmetic analysis; Organic transistor; Sensors.

MeSH terms

  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Cosmetics* / analysis
  • Cosmetics* / chemistry
  • Limit of Detection*
  • Spermidine* / analysis
  • Spermidine* / chemistry
  • Transistors, Electronic*

Substances

  • Spermidine
  • Cosmetics