Enhancing Biochemistry Lab with Arduino
Authors: Galembeck Eduardo , Candido Juliana Pascuotte , Macedo Ana Paula Pires , Bortolato Claudia Amoroso 
Published: June 2021

The advancement of the new technologies of information and communication brought significant contributions to science education. The most remarkable and widespread technology is handheld computers, such as smartphones. Some examples of the benefits brought by personal computers to science education are the possibility of interaction with models and their development, the capacity of data storage, treatment, exchange, and visualization as well as the possibility to simulate complex systems. The capacity of having things (instruments, equipment, sensors, actuators) connected to the internet opened a unique perspective for science education that is the possibility of massively teaching science by doing science, even in online courses. Experiments can be planned, and data can be collected and interpreted remotely, using personal devices and equipment that can be made available to students for remote operation, from their schools.

We have developed Arduino based pieces of equipment to enhance biochemistry lab optimizing data collection and treatment processes. In this work, it will be presented the results obtained from an online automatic titrator and a low‐cost spectrophotometer. The automatic online titrator (Figure 1) is composed of two scales on which stock solutions of titrants are deposited. The titrant solutions are added to the titrated using peristaltic pumps. A magnetic stirrer plate on which is placed a Becker containing the titrated, having its base illuminated for better visualization of the titration reactions. A pH meter is immersed into the titrated. All measurements of the sensors (scale and pH) are broadcasted online to a web page. The peristaltic pumps and magnetic stirrer controllers are also made online through the same page. Among the experiments that can be performed using this equipment is the amino acid, buffer, and pH indicators titrations.

The low‐cost spectrophotometer (Figure 2) was constructed by using an RGB LED and a light detector. The RGB LED can be set to deliver visible light at various wavelengths. Among the experiments that can be performed with this equipment is the dosage of proteins and glucose. We used the low‐cost spectrophotometer for protein dosage by the Bradford method, and for glucose dosage by the Somogyi‐Nelsen method. The results obtained showed a correlation higher than 0.98 with the same measurement made in a commercial spectrophotometer.

The use of Arduino technology has enormous potential to increase biochemistry laboratories. Among the equipment developed, the online automatic titrator allows the realization of titrations in a faster way and with the automatic registration of the data. It allows students to devote more time to the planning of the experiments and interpretation of the results. The spectrophotometer developed, presented results equivalent to commercial equipment, and for its small size and battery power, it can be used in field activities. We have also taught graduate students to build their equipment to optimise the experiments they perform in their research and classes.

Support or Funding Information

This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior – Brasil (CAPES) – Finance Code 001, CNPq, and grant# 2016/05243‐7, São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP)

This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.