A scalpel that can diagnose? UCT Prague scientists published a new diagnostic tool concept

Imagine a surgeon who does not have to wait for laboratory test results during an operation – the surgical instrument itself could one day provide basic information about the patient’s condition right in the operating room. The first step toward this vision has been taken by researchers at the University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague (UCT Prague) in the group of Professor Zdeněk Sofer (Sofer Group).

Proof of Concept: “Lab-on-a-Scalpel”

The research team has developed the concept of a “Lab-on-a-Scalpel” – a surgical tool with an integrated electrochemical sensor produced using 3D printing. So far, the sensor works under laboratory conditions and can detect selected metabolites, for example, compounds related to stress response.

UCT Prague: A scalpel that can diagnose? UCT Prague scientists published a new diagnostic tool concept

How does it work?

• The electrochemical sensor is directly integrated into the handle of the tool.
• By combining plastic with carbon nanomaterials produced during 3D printing, the sensor can measure low concentrations of analytes.
• The sensor must be optimised for specific analytes (depending on the environment and pH, for example in buffer solutions).

What are the future possibilities?

If the technology can be further developed, it might one day enable:

• Rapid detection of metabolites during surgery or biopsy.
• Monitoring of ions and pH directly in tissue in real time.
• Support for oncological and emergency procedures, where time is critical.

For now, however, this is mainly a vision, pointing to how nanomaterials and 3D printing could one day transform medical diagnostics.

Why is it important?

The study shows that even with commonly available 3D printers it is possible to create a tool with an integrated functional electrochemical sensor. This opens the way to a new generation of diagnostic instruments that could, in the future, accelerate decision-making in the operating room.

Who is behind the project?

The concept was developed as part of research at the Sofer Group at UCT Prague, which has long been focused on nanomaterials and their applications in sensors, electronics, and energy. The publication in the prestigious journal ACS Analytical Chemistry was co-authored by Anastasios V. Papavasileiou, Lukáš Děkanovský, and Zdeněk Sofer.

The original article

Lab-on-a-Scalpel: Medical Tool Incorporating a Disposable Fully 3D-Printed Electrochemical Cell Promoting Drop-Volume Chemical Analysis in the Operating Theater

Anastasios V. Papavasileiou*, Lukáš Děkanovský, and Zdeněk Sofer*

Anal. Chem. 2025, 97, 20, 10709–10719

https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.5c00599

licensed under CC-BY 4.0

Abstract

Surgical operations are intricate and invasive procedures that require continuous monitoring of the patient’s biochemical profile. Point-of-care testing would allow healthcare professionals to identify abnormalities and make the necessary interventions to minimize the risk of complications and ensure patient safety. To this end, we report the development of a disposable and compact fully 3D-printed electrochemical cell incorporated into a medical scalpel (Lab-on-a-Scalpel), aiming to promote on-site (electro)chemical analysis in the operating theater. This multifunctional device minimizes the number of instruments needed during surgery and can be fabricated on-demand by using a desktop-sized 3D printer at a very low cost. The performance of the Lab-on-a-Scalpel sensing device was evaluated over various electrochemical techniques (cyclic voltammetry, amperometry, and differential pulse voltammetry) and different setups (stirring, drop-volume analysis, polarization potentials, etc.) for the determination of epinephrine. Results showed attractive analytical figures-of-merit, with the limit of detection (LOD) reaching 0.13 μM, and high accuracy in recovery studies conducted on artificial blood samples. Our findings suggest that Lab-on-a-Scalpel is a valuable tool that enables near-patient diagnostics with a minimum sample volume and holds promise to become an essential tool for robotic-assisted surgery.