An impedance-based chemiresistor for the real-time detection of gut microbiota-generated short-chain fatty acids

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are key molecules produced by gut bacteria in the intestine, that are absorbed into the bloodstream and strongly influence human health. SCFA disruption and imbalances have been linked to many diseases; however, they are seldom used diagnostically as their detection requires extensive sample preparation and expensive equipment. In this work, an electrochemical sensor was developed to enable real-time, quantitative measurement of SCFAs from complex samples in the liquid phase without the need for extraction, evaporation, or destruction.