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Herein, we demonstrate the preparation and application of NiCo2O4 decorated over a g-C3N4-based novel nanocomposite (NiCo2O4@g-C3N4). The prepared material was well characterized through several physicochemical techniques, including FT-IR, XRD, SEM, and TEM. The electrochemical characterizations via electrochemical impedance spectroscopy show the low electron transfer resistance of NiCo2O4@g-C3N4 owing to the successful incorporation of NiCo2O4 nanoparticles on the sheets of g-C3N4. NiCo2O4@g-C3N4 nanocomposite was employed in the fabrication of a screen-printed carbon electrode-based innovative electrochemical sensing platform and the adsorptive removal of a food dye, i.e., fast green FCF dye (FGD). The electrochemical oxidation of FGD at the developed NiCo2O4@g-C3N4 nanocomposite modified screen-printed carbon electrode (NiCo2O4@g-C3N4/SPCE) was observed at an oxidation potential of 0.65 V. A wide dual calibration range for electrochemical determination of FGD was successfully established at the prepared sensing platform, showing an excellent LOD of 0.13 µM and sensitivity of 0.6912 µA.µM−1.cm−2 through differential pulse voltammetry. Further, adsorbent dose, pH, contact time, and temperature were optimized to study the adsorption phenomena. The adsorption thermodynamics, isotherm, and kinetics were also investigated for efficient removal of FGD at NiCo2O4@g-C3N4-based adsorbents. The adsorption phenomenon of FGD on NiCo2O4@g-C3N4 was best fitted (R2 = 0.99) with the Langmuir and Henry model, and the corresponding value of Langmuir adsorption efficiency (qm) was 3.72 mg/g for the removal of FGD. The reaction kinetics for adsorption phenomenon were observed to be pseudo-second order. The sensitive analysis of FGD in a real sample was also studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accelerated synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in charged microdroplets produced by electrospray ionization (ESI) was exploited to modify the surface of graphite screen-printed electrodes (GSPEs). The deposited AuNPs were then functionalized by the charged microdroplets deposition of 6-ferrocenyl-hexanethiol (6Fc-ht) solutions that act as reducing and stabilizing agents and provide electrochemical properties for the modified electrodes. The morphology and composition of the AuNPs were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Cyclic voltammetry (CV), differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were used to investigate the electrochemical behavior of the modified electrodes. The results showed that the ESI microdroplets deposition technique produces uniform and well-dispersed AuNPs on GSPE, and optimal conditions for deposition were identified, enhancing GSPE electrocatalytic performance. Further functionalization by ESI microdroplets of AuNPs with 6Fc-ht demonstrated improved redox properties compared with the conventional self-assembled monolayer (SAM) method, highlighting the technique's potential for the easy and fast functionalization of electrochemical sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A highly sensitive and selective label-free impedimetric immunosensor based on AuNPs@pDA@NiCo2S4@MoS2 nanocomposite modified on the surface of a screen-printed electrode (SPE) was designed for the detection of interleukin-6 (IL-6). The distribution of NiCo2S4 nanoparticles on MoS2 nanosheets was able to prevent them from agglomerating. The polydopamine (pDA) layer was coated on the surface of NiCo2S4@MoS2 nanosheets by self-polymerization, which improved the stability and biocompatibility of the nanomaterial. The excellent reduction ability of pDA promoted the synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), which increased the amount of antibody adsorption and the conductivity of the material. Finally, the antibody (Ab) of IL-6 was immobilized on the surface of AuNPs@pDA@NiCo2S4@MoS2 nanocomposite. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was used to detect the change of impedance before and after the immune response between Ab and IL-6 antigen (IL-6). Under the optimal experimental conditions, the relative change in impedance and the logarithmic concentration of IL-6 showed a good linear relationship in the range 1.00 to 1.00 × 106 pg/mL, with a low detection limit of 0.97 pg/mL. In addition, the proposed immunosensor performed with good reproducibility, stability, and specificity. It was successfully applied to the determination of IL-6 in patient's serum samples of head and neck carcinoma with recoveries of 98.40% to 106.5%. To sum up, the proposed label-free impedimetric immunosensor was successfully constructed for IL-6 detection in real samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatitis A virus (HAV), a major cause of acute liver infections, is transmitted through the fecal–oral route and close contact with infected individuals. Current HAV standardized methods rely on the detection of virus antigen or RNA, which do not differentiate between infectious and non-infectious HAV. The objective of this study was to develop a prototype cell-based electrochemical biosensor for detection of infectious HAV. A cell culture-adapted HAV strain (HM175/18f) and its permissive cells (FRhK-4), along with gold nanoparticle-modified screen-printed electrodes, were used to develop the biosensor. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was used to quantify the electrical impedance signal. Nyquist plots showed successful fabrication of the cell-based biosensor. The optimum period of HAV incubation with the biosensor was 6 h. A significant linear relationship (R2 = 0.98) was found between the signal and a 6-log range of HAV titers, with a limit of detection of ~5 TCID50/mL (tissue culture infectious dose). The biosensor did not detect non-target viruses such as feline calicivirus and human coronavirus 229E. The biosensor was stable for 3 to 7 days at an abusive temperature (37 °C), retaining ~90 to 60% of the original signal, respectively. In conclusion, this prototype cell-based biosensor is capable of rapidly detecting low levels of infectious HAV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is a suitable analytical technique to detect interfacial phenomena and analyte binding at electrode surfaces. In contrast to metallic electrodes, carbon‐based electrodes are more suited due to the low cost and the availability of more versatile methods for chemical functionalization. For (bio) sensing, often the Faradaic version of EIS in a three‐electrode configuration is used, where a redox‐active species is used as a marker. In order to avoid interference due to the redox‐active marker with the interfacial interaction, we focus here on the use of non‐Faradaic EIS in the absence of any added markers. First, we utilize the sedimentation of silica beads as a model system, which reduces the complexity of the interaction simplifying the interpretation of the measured signals. Moreover, we introduce two improvements. First, impedance measurements are performed in a three‐electrode configuration with applied potential as an additional variable, which serves as a handle to optimize the sensitivity. Secondly, we present a time‐differential strategy to detect subtle changes and demonstrate that we can consistently follow the sedimentation of beads using the non‐Faradaic impedance as a function of the applied potential. Finally, we show a proof‐of‐principle demonstration for the biosensing of cell attachment on the electrodes in real‐time using the proposed technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-cost electrochemical methodologies for the determination of L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and the analysis of juices are developed based on its electro-oxidation on carbon screen-printed electrodes. A novel chronoamperometric methodology is developed for the quantification of L-ascorbic acid in fruit juices. The proposed method stands out for its simplicity and rapidity, demonstrating its efficacy in determining L-ascorbic acid content in various fruit juices. Notably, the results obtained with this chronoamperometric approach are compared with those yielded by chromatography, with no significant differences between the two methods being found. Additionally, an electronic tongue is developed for the differentiation of juices based on the square wave voltammetric signals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Faris Hernando Reviansyah,1,* Azzahra Delvyra Ristin,1,* Adil Abdul Rauf,2 Prisilia Dita Sepirasari,2 Fahmi Nur Alim,2 Yuspian Nur,3 Veni Takarini,4 Muhammad Yusuf,5 Dudi Aripin,6 Sri Susilawati,7 Maria Komariah,8 Boy Yoseph Cahya Sunan Sakti Syah Alam9 1Undergraduate Program, Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Padjadjaran, Sumedang, 45363, Indonesia; 2Undergraduate Program, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Padjadjaran, Sumedang, 45363, Indonesia; 3Laboratory of Research and Development of FARMAKA TROPIS, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Mulawarman, Samarinda, East Kalimantan, 75119, Indonesia; 4Department of Dental Materials and Technology, Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Padjadjaran, Bandung, 40132, Indonesia; 5Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Padjadjaran, Sumedang, 45363, Indonesia; 6Department of Conservative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Padjadjaran, Bandung, 40132, Indonesia; 7Department of Dental Public Health, Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Padjadjaran, Bandung, 40132, Indonesia; 8Department of Fundamental Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Padjadjaran University, Bandung, 40132, Indonesia; 9Faculty of Geological Engineering, Universitas Padjadjaran, Jatinangor, Jawa Barat, 45363, Indonesia*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Faris Hernando Reviansyah, Email faris21001@mail.unpad.ac.idBackground: Biomarkers are essential tools for diagnosing diseases. Saliva, as a human fluid, effectively reflects the body’s condition due to its rich composition. Analyzing saliva components allows for noninvasive, cost-effective, and time-efficient screening and diagnosis. Alpha-amylase, a key biomarker present in saliva, has been linked to oral diseases. This study introduces an innovative method for the noninvasive detection of alpha-amylase using screen-printed electrodes (SPEs), enabling easy and efficient screening and diagnosis.Methods: The proposed method involves measuring varying concentrations of alpha-amylase using Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) and Differential Pulse Voltammetry (DPV). Saliva samples are applied directly onto electrodes pre-coated with biomarkers and a conditioning agent, allowing for precise detection and analysis.Results: The screen-printed carbon electrode demonstrated excellent performance in detecting alpha-amylase, with clear voltammogram results, achieving a limit of detection (LOD) of 104.252 units and a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 315.915 units.Conclusion: A gold nanoparticle-modified screen-printed electrode (SPE) was developed to measure alpha-amylase quantitatively. Despite sensitivity to external interference, notably temperature, pH, and the duration of incubation, While the sensor showed sensitivity to external factors such as pH and temperature variations, it maintained a strong linear response, reinforcing its potential for reliable diagnostics with linear regression score (R² = 0.9513) across alpha-amylase concentrations of 100– 500 units. This study underscores the sensor’s effectiveness as a non-invasive tool for early detection using saliva as a biomarker, enhancing patient comfort and compliance. However, further research is needed for medical applications.Keywords: Biomarkers, Screen-printed electrodes, Saliva, Alpha-amylase

Screen‐printed electrochemical sensing platforms are ubiquitous within the field of electrochemistry where they provide benefits of being disposable, cost‐effective, reproducible, easily customisable, portable and allow one to transfer the laboratory approach into the field. In this review, we introduce the concept of screen‐printed electrodes, we summarise positive and negative aspects before moving into the current highlights of using traditional screen‐printed carbon electrodes within the field of electroanalysis. We then look to cover metallic and bulk modified varieties, geometric changes (micro, microband and associated arrays), electrode activation and finally the physical length of screen‐printed electrodes, providing insights for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clays have been exploited in the manufacture of diverse products from ceramics to paints, pharmaceuticals, plastics, cosmetics, and more. Thus, they can be used in many industrial applications, showing good adsorbent ability thanks to their lamellar structure, high cation exchange capacity, pore size distribution, and large surface area. For this reason, considerable attention has been paid to their in-depth characterization, for further integration in sectors such as biomedicine, construction, remediation, aerospace, and nanotechnology. For this aim, two samples of natural clays, ALO1 and PRE4, from the southeast part of Albania, were subject to a multi-methodological characterization, with the aim of addressing the use of such geomaterials in possible sensing applications. X-ray fluorescence analysis, morphological characterization of the samples, and energy-dispersive system spectroscopy pointed to an extreme mineralogical variety, with kaolinite in AL01 and montmorillonite in PRE4 as the most abundant phases. This fact was further confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction, showing a quartz content of 20%, a kaolinite content of 64%, and a muscovite content of 16% for ALO1; meanwhile, for PRE4, we found a content of quartz of 45%, a content of montmorillonite of 34.9%, and a content of clinochlore of 20%. Infrared spectroscopy and thermal analyses confirmed the presence of hydroxyl groups in both samples, suggesting a higher content in ALO1. Measurement of N2 adsorption isotherms on the clay samples yields specific surface areas of 87 m2/g for PRE4 and 32 m2/g for ALO1, pore volumes of 0.721 cm3/g for PRE4 and 0.637 cm3/g for ALO1, and similar pore sizes in the range of 6–12 nm. Electrochemical analysis highlighted a good conductivity of ALO1 and PRE4 when used for the modification of commercial carbon-based screen-printed electrodes. In detail, higher currents were registered by differential pulse voltammetry for the electrodes modified with the clays with respect to bare electrodes, as well as good repeatability of the measurements. In addition, a comparative study with nanomaterials, known for their good conductivity, was achieved, using carbon black and gold nanoparticles as a reference, showing that the conductivity of the clays was lower than but not so different from those of the reference materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces a quantitative method for dopamine determination. The method is based on a molecularly imprinted polypyrrole (e-MIP)-modified screen-printed electrode, with differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) as the chosen measurement technique. The dopamine molecules are efficiently entrapped in the polymeric film, creating recognition cavities. A comparison with bare and non-imprinted polypyrrole-modified electrodes clearly demonstrates the superior sensitivity, selectivity, and reproducibility of the e-MIP-based one; indeed, a sensitivity of 0.078 µA µM−1, a detection limit (LOD) of 0.8 µM, a linear range between 0.8 and 45 µM and a dynamic range of up to 350 µM are achieved. The method was successfully tested on fortified synthetic and human urine samples to underline its applicability as a screening method for biomedical tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) represent the most prevalent type of outpatient infection, with significant adverse health and economic burdens. Current culture-based antibiotic susceptibility testing can take up to 72 h resulting in ineffective prescription of broad-spectrum antibiotics, poor clinical outcomes and development of further antibiotic resistance. We report an electrochemical lab-on-a-chip (LOC) for testing samples against seven clinically-relevant antibiotics. The LOC contained eight chambers, each housing an antibiotic-loaded hydrogel (cephalexin, ceftriaxone, colistin, gentamicin, piperacillin, trimethoprim, vancomycin) or antibiotic-free control, alongside a resazurin bulk-modified screen-printed electrode for electrochemical detection of metabolically active bacteria using differential pulse voltammetry. Antibiotic susceptibility in simulated UTI samples or donated human urine with either Escherichia coli or Klebsiella pneumoniae could be established within 85 min. Incorporating electrochemical detection onto a LOC provides an inexpensive, simple method for the sensitive determination of antibiotic susceptibility that is significantly faster than using a culture-based approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, waterborne viral infections significantly threaten public health. While current European Union regulations stipulate that drinking water must be devoid of harmful pathogens, they do not specifically address the presence of enteric viruses in water used for irrigation or food production. Traditional virus detection methods rely on molecular biology assays, requiring specialized personnel and laboratory facilities. Here, we describe an electrochemical sandwich enzyme-linked immunomagnetic assay (ELIME) for the detection of the hepatitis A virus (HAV) in water matrices. This method employed screen-printed electrodes as the sensing platform and utilized commercially available pre-activated magnetic beads to provide a robust foundation for the immunological reaction. The ELIME assay demonstrated exceptional analytical performance in only 185 min achieving a detection limit of 0.5 genomic copies per milliliter (g.c./mL) and exhibiting good reproducibility with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of 7% in HAV-spiked drinking and processing water samples. Compared with the real-time RT-qPCR method described in ISO 15216-1, the ELIME assay demonstrated higher sensitivity, although the overall linearity of the method was moderate. These analytical attributes highlight the potential of the ELIME assay as a rapid and viable alternative for HAV detection in water used for agriculture and food processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the electrochemical behavior of ketamine using an in-lab fabricated screen-printed electrode system and explores its potential application in quantitative analysis. Cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) experiments were employed to characterize the oxidation behavior of ketamine. Systematic optimization of DPV parameters, including pulse amplitude, pulse width, potential step, potential, and time accumulation for analyte preconcentration resulted in the selection of optimal conditions for quantitative analysis. The developed DPV method exhibited excellent linearity (R2 = 0.996) over the concentration range of 50–500 µM, with a limit of detection of 15 µM and a limit of quantification of 50 µM. Authentic samples analysis demonstrated the utility of the proposed sensor for quantitative analysis of ketamine in pharmaceutical products and seized drug samples. Overall, the developed sensor offers a promising tool for the rapid and accurate analysis of ketamine in various samples with potential applications in on-site forensic analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we present investigation on the behavior of bactosomes containing human cytochrome CYP3A4 in comparison with recombinant enzyme. The bactosomes were adsorbed on the surface of screen-printed electrodes modified with didodecyldimethylammonium bromide. We have shown that bactosomes are effective bioreactors in the case of drug metabolic electroenzymatic reactions. The electrocatalytic reaction was conducted at a working potential of − 0.50 ÷ − 0.55 V. Drug conversion was registered by means of measuring of formaldehyde as product of N-demethylation reaction of erythromycin and time-dependent electrochemical oxidation of diclofenac during electrolysis at controlled working potential. The efficiencies of electrocatalysis of erythromycin N-demethylation as well-known cytochrome P450 3A4 substrate in the case of bactosomes containing human cytochrome P450 3A4 was 3.5 ± 0.4 times higher in comparison with highly purified cytochrome P450 3A4-electrode as catalyst. The efficiencies of electrocatalysis of diclofenac 5-hydroxylation in the case of bactosomes were 3.1 ± 0.3 times higher than for purified enzyme. Bactosomes are effective electrochemical enzymatic nanobioreactors with a high electroenzymatic efficiency for metabolite production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Screen-printed electrodes (SPEs) are reliable, portable, affordable, and versatile electrochemical platforms for the real-time analytical monitoring of emerging analytes in the environmental, clinical, and agricultural fields. The aim of this study was to evaluate the electrochemical behavior of gold screen-printed electrodes (SPGEs) modified with molecules containing amino (Tr-N) or α-aminophosphonate (Tr-P) groups for the selective and sensitive detection of the toxic metal ions Pb2+ and Hg2+ in aqueous samples. After optimizing the analytical parameters (conditioning potential and time, deposition potential and time, pH and concentration of the supporting electrolyte), anodic square wave stripping voltammetry (SWASV) was used to evaluate and compare the electrochemical performance of bare or modified electrodes for the detection of Hg2+ and Pb2+, either alone or in their mixtures in the concentration range between 1 nM and 10 nM. A significative improvement in the detection ability of Pb2+ ions was recorded for the amino-functionalized gold sensor SPGE-N, while the presence of a phosphonate moiety in SPGE-P led to greater sensitivity towards Hg2+ ions. The developed sensors allow the detection of Pb2+ and Hg2+ with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.41 nM and 35 pM, respectively, below the legal limits for these heavy metal ions in drinking water or food, while the sensitivity was 5.84 µA nM−1cm−2 and 10 µA nM−1cm−2, respectively, for Pb2+ and Hg2+. The reported results are promising for the development of advanced devices for the in situ and cost-effective monitoring of heavy metals, even in trace amounts, in water resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer remains one of the leading causes for death worldwide. Palliative chemotherapy is vital for certain cancer patients, highlighting the critical need for treatment monitoring tools to prevent drug accumulation and mitigate the risk of high toxicity. Therefore, our aim was to evaluate the potential of screen-printed electrodes for the development of sensitive and accurate biosensors for the detection/quantification of antineoplastic drugs. To this purpose, we developed a cisplatin sensor. By functionalizing the gold electrode with human serum albumin and by collecting the electrochemical signal obtained in a H2O2 solution, through voltammetry measurements, we were able to correlate the current measured at 430 mV with the concentration of cisplatin present in human serum samples, with a correlation coefficient of R2 = 0.99. Also, a bleomycin biosensor was developed and proven functional, but further optimization steps were employed in order to improve the accuracy. The developed biosensors have a detection range of 0.0006–43.2 mg/mL for cisplatin and 0.23–7.56 μg/mL for bleomycin in the serum samples. Our preliminary results show that these biosensors can facilitate the real-time monitoring of cisplatin and bleomycin serum levels, allowing healthcare professionals to tailor treatment strategies based on individual patient responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the era of liquid biopsy, microRNAs emerge as promising candidates for the early diagnosis and prognosis of cancer, offering valuable insights into the disease's development. Among all the existing analytical approaches, even if traditional approaches such as the nucleic acid amplification ones have the advantages to be highly sensitive, they cannot be used at the point-of-care, while sensors might be poorly sensitive despite their portability. In order to improve the analytical performance of existing electroanalytical systems, we demonstrate how a simple chromatographic paper-based disk might be useful to rationally improve the sensitivity, depending on the number of preconcentration cycles. A paper-based electrochemical platform for miRNA detection has been developed by modifying a paper-based electrode with a methylene blue (MB)-modified single-stranded sequence (ssDNA) complementary to the chosen miRNA, namely miR-224 that is associated with lung cancer. A detection limit of ca. 0.6 nM has been obtained in spiked human serum samples. To further enhance the sensitivity, an external chromatographic wax-patterned paper-based disk has been adopted to preconcentrate the sample, and this has been demonstrated both in standard and in serum solutions. For each solution, three miR-224 levels have been preconcentrated, obtaining a satisfactory lowering detection limit of ca. 50 pM using a simple and sustainable procedure. This approach opens wide possibilities in the field of analytical and bioanalytical chemistry, being useful not only for electrochemistry but also for other architectures of detection and transduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the detection and determination of numerous drugs and pharmaceuticals in various media have become crucial aspects of modern healthcare and environmental management. Among the available sensing techniques, electrochemical methods, particularly those utilising screen-printed electrodes (SPEs) and different portable equipment have emerged as rapid, effective, sensitive, and inexpensive. This study focuses on the detection of the anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac in neutral media. Cyclic voltammetry measurements were conducted to identify diclofenac and determine the kinetics and electrochemical mechanism of its oxidation, along with assessing the surface characteristics of the employed SPEs. Graphene and modified graphene SPEs were explored as nanosensors for this purpose. The surface of the graphene SPE was modified using polyvinylidene fluoride, applied through a drop modification procedure. The morphology of the examined SPEs was observed by means of scanning electron microscope, while the electrolyte (0.1 g of diclofenac per litre of phosphate-buffered solution, pH = 7.4) was analysed using UV-Vis spectroscopy. The results indicate that the studied SPEs exhibit promising potential for the detection of diclofenac.

The progressive increase in nitrate's (NO3−) presence in surface and groundwater enhances environmental and human health risks. The aim of this work is the fabrication and characterization of sensitive, real-time, low-cost, and portable amperometric sensors for low NO3− concentration detection in water. Copper (Cu) micro-flowers were electrodeposited on top of carbon screen-printed electrodes (SPCEs) via cyclic voltammetry (with voltage ranging from −1.0 V to 0.0 V at a scan rate of 0.1 V s−1). The obtained sensors exhibited a high catalytic activity toward the electro-reduction in NO3−, with a sensitivity of 44.71 μA/mM. They had a limit of detection of 0.87 µM and a good dynamic linear concentration range from 0.05 to 3 mM. The results were compared to spectrophotometric analysis. In addition, the devices exhibited good stability and a maximum standard deviation (RSD) of 5% after ten measurements; reproducibility, with a maximum RSD of 4%; and repeatability after 10 measurements with the RSD at only 5.63%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sensitivity in the sub-nanomolar concentration region is required to determine important protein biomarkers, e.g., ferritin. As a prerequisite for high sensitivity, in this paper, the affinity of the functional monomer to the macromolecular target ferritin in solution was compared with the value for the respective molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP)-based electrodes, and the influence of various surface modifications of the electrode was investigated. The analytical performance of ferritin sensing was investigated using three different carbon electrodes (screen-printed carbon electrodes, single-walled-carbon-nanotube-modified screen-printed carbon electrodes, and glassy carbon electrodes) covered with a scopoletin-based MIP layer. Regardless of the electrode type, the template molecule ferritin was mixed with the functional monomer scopoletin, and electropolymerization was conducted using multistep amperometry. All stages of MIP preparation were followed by evaluating the diffusional permeability of the redox marker ferricyanide/ferrocyanide through the polymer layer by differential pulse voltammetry. The best results were obtained with glassy carbon electrodes. The MIP sensor responded up to 0.5 µM linearly with a Kd of 0.30 µM. Similar results were also obtained in solution upon the interaction of scopoletin and ferritin using fluorescence spectroscopy, resulting in the quenching of the scopoletin signal, with a calculated Kd of 0.81 µM. Moreover, the binding of 1 µM ferritin led to 49.6% suppression, whereas human serum albumin caused 8.6% suppression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerical models of electrochemical sensors using screen-printed electrodes (SPEs) are limited. Simulating the dynamic response of SPEs is challenging due to their complex geometry and kinetic behavior. In this paper, we present a general process by which SPEs can be modeled using commercial finite element software, COMSOL Multiphysics. Parameters such as electroactive surface area and the heterogenous rate constant were derived empirically using a commonly used redox couple of hexaammineruthenium (III), [ R u (N H 3) 6 ] 3 + , and hexaammineruthenium (II), [ R u (N H 3) 6 ] 2 + . Experimentally derived parameters were used in the model and a transient numerical simulation was run to replicate the cyclic voltagramms procured from experiment. The results show that the electroactive area was measured to be 2.3 m m 2 (± 0.674), which was less than the 3.14 m m 2 geometric area. In addition, the heterogeneous kinetic constant at various voltage scanning rates, ranging from 25 to 500 mV/s, were measured. Uncompensated resistance was measured as 301.9 Ω (± 1.6) and was also incorporated as a parameters in the model. Numerical results as represented by voltagramms shapes were consistent with experimental results. The model was able to predict the maximum anodic current density with an accuracy of 30.5%, 22.9%, 13.4%, 16.2%, 12.8%, 14.8%, and 14.6% for scan rates ranging from 25 to 500 mV/s (25, 50, 75, 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 mV/s, respectively). The model was more accurate in predicting maximum cathodic currents with accuracy values of 1.7%, 1.2%, 5.5%, 4.1%, 1.7%, 2.4%, and 2.2% for scan rates ranging from 25 to 500 mV/s. The results demonstrate the first attempt to model the SPEs which incorporate experimentally derived parameters. These types of models are expected to help biosensor researchers simulate sensor response before fabrication and testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growth of liquid biopsy, i. e., the possibility of obtaining health information by analysing circulating species (nucleic acids, cells, proteins, and vesicles) in peripheric biofluids, is pushing the field of sensors and biosensors beyond the limit to provide decentralised solutions for nonspecialists. In particular, among all the circulating species that can be adopted in managing cancer evolution, both for diagnostic and prognostic applications, microRNAs have been highly studied and detected. The development of electrochemical devices is particularly relevant for liquid biopsy purposes, and the screen‐printed electrodes (SPEs) represent one of the building blocks for producing novel portable devices. In this work, we have taken miR‐2115‐3p as model target (it is related to lung cancer), and we have developed a biosensor by exploiting the use of a complementary DNA probe modified with methylene blue as redox mediator. In particular, the chosen sensing architecture was applied to serum measurements of the selected miRNA, obtaining a detection limit within the low nanomolar range; in addition, various platforms were interrogated, namely commercial and hand‐made SPEs, with the aim of providing the reader with some insights about the optimal platform to be used by considering both the cost and the analytical performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The presence of water micropollutants, such as antibiotics, has proved the necessity to develop novel and cost‐effective devices for their identification and quantification. These devices aim to save time, reagent usage, and costs associated with conventional analytical methods. In this work, we introduce poly(methylene blue) based screen‐printed electrodes (SPE‐PMB) as electrochemical sensors designed for the quantification of levofloxacin (LVX), given its current prevalence as a micropollutant. Integrating the fabrication and measurement processes into a single electrochemical device is a significant step in creating affordable detection tools. The proposed sensor was assessed using LVX solutions prepared in real groundwater samples, demonstrating its selectivity and achieving a detection limit of 3.3 μM. Finally, we compared the SPE‐PMB sensor and high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to validate its operation and performance. Consequently, our results suggest that the sensor can be a viable alternative to chromatographic methods for identifying and quantifying micropollutants at very low concentrations in complex matrices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports a rapid and sensitive sensor for the detection and quantification of the COVID-19 N-protein (N-PROT) via an electrochemical mechanism. Single-frequency electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was used as a transduction method for real-time measurement of the N-PROT in an immunosensor system based on gold-conjugate-modified carbon screen-printed electrodes (Cov-Ag-SPE). The system presents high selectivity attained through an optimal stimulation signal composed of a 0.0 V DC potential and 10 mV RMS−1 AC signal at 100 Hz over 300 s. The Cov-Ag-SPE showed a log response toward N-PROT detection at concentrations from 1.0 ng mL−1 to 10.0 μg mL−1, with a 0.977 correlation coefficient for the phase (θ) variation. An ML-based approach could be created using some aspects observed from the positive and negative samples; hence, it was possible to classify 252 samples, reaching 83.0, 96.2 and 91.3% sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy, respectively, with confidence intervals (CI) ranging from 73.0 to 100.0%. Because impedance spectroscopy measurements can be performed with low-cost portable instruments, the immunosensor proposed here can be applied in point-of-care diagnostics for mass testing, even in places with limited resources, as an alternative to the common diagnostics methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Screen‐printed electrochemical sensing platforms are ubiquitous within the field of electrochemistry where they provide benefits of being disposable, cost‐effective, reproducible, easily customisable, portable and allow one to transfer the laboratory approach into the field. In this review, we introduce the concept of screen‐printed electrodes, we summarise positive and negative aspects before moving into the current highlights of using traditional screen‐printed carbon electrodes within the field of electroanalysis. We then look to cover metallic and bulk modified varieties, geometric changes (micro, microband and associated arrays), electrode activation and finally the physical length of screen‐printed electrodes, providing insights for future research.

Low-cost electrochemical methodologies for the determination of L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and the analysis of juices are developed based on its electro-oxidation on carbon screen-printed electrodes. A novel chronoamperometric methodology is developed for the quantification of L-ascorbic acid in fruit juices. The proposed method stands out for its simplicity and rapidity, demonstrating its efficacy in determining L-ascorbic acid content in various fruit juices. Notably, the results obtained with this chronoamperometric approach are compared with those yielded by chromatography, with no significant differences between the two methods being found. Additionally, an electronic tongue is developed for the differentiation of juices based on the square wave voltammetric signals.

This paper presents a low-cost disposable sensor for gallic acid (GA) detection in non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages using a screen-printed cell (SPC) whose working electrode (in graphite) is modified with electrosynthesized molecularly imprinted polypyrrole (eMIP). Our preliminary characterization of the electrochemical process shows that gallic acid (GA) undergoes irreversible oxidation at potentials of about +0.3 V. The peak potential is not affected by the presence of the eMIP film and alcohol percentages (ethanol) up to 20%. The GA determination is based on a differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) analysis leveraging its oxidation peak. The calibration data and the figures of merit of the analytical method (LOD, LOQ, and linear range) are calculated. To validate the feasibility of the sensor's application for the dosing of GA in real matrices, some non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages are analyzed. The results are then compared with those reported in the literature and with the total polyphenol content determined by the Folin–Ciocalteu method. In all cases, the concentrations of GA align with those previously found in the literature for the beverages examined. Notably, the values are consistently lower than the total polyphenol content, demonstrating the sensor's selectivity in discriminating the target molecule from other polyphenols present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bare, non-pretreated platinum wires and screen-printed platinum electrodes were used as both working and counter electrodes in the measurement of dissolved oxygen using a chronoamperometric method. The oxygen reduction current response in the diffusion state was used for a linear determination of air saturation. We evaluated the two different materials in general for their sensing performance such as conditioning time, accuracy, resolution and stability over 13 h of continuous mid-term measurement. A good performance was found for the wire electrodes in terms of accuracy with a current slope of 1.0–1.6 µA (% as)-1 and a resolution of 10–15 nA (Lowest Level of Detection = 0.1% as), but with an unstable current response result over the course of the measurement. The screen-printed electrodes have a resolution of 10–18 nA (Lowest Level of Detection = 0.6–0.8% as) and an accuracy of 620–660 nA (% as)-1 but they showed promising reproducibility and stability. Both materials require several hours of conditioning in the chronoamperometric method before a stable current response is achieved. For biotechnological applications, the platinum screen printed electrodes were evaluated in typical parameter settings (pH 4.0 and 7.4, salinity 0.1 to 10x phosphate buffered saline and temperature 12 to 42 °C) and showed correlations between the response time and stability and the temperature. No correlations were found between salinity, pH and the current response. In this paper, we present inexpensive electrode materials and a simple to implement chronoamperometric method for reliable direct measurement of dissolved oxygen in aqueous media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we present a multiphysics modeling approach capable of simulating electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) responses of screen-printed electrodes (SPEs) modified with self-assembled monolayers of 11-Mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA). Commercially available gold SPEs are electrochemically characterized through experimental cyclic voltammetry and EIS measurements with 10 mM [Fe(CN)6]3−/4− redox couple in phosphate buffered saline before and after the surface immobilization of MUA at different concentrations. We design the multiphysics model through COMSOL Multiphysics® based on the 3D geometry of the devices under test. The model includes four different physics considering the metal/solution interface electrochemical phenomena, the ion and electron potentials and currents, and the measurement set-up. The model is calibrated through a set of experimental measurements, allowing the tuning of the parameters used by the model. We use the calibrated model to simulate the EIS response of MUA-modified SPEs, comparing the results with experimental data. The simulations fit the experimental curves well, following the variation of MUA concentration on the surface from 1 µM to 100 µM. The EIS parameters, retrieved through a CPE-modified Randles' circuit, confirm the consistency with the experimental data. Notably, the simulated surface coverage estimates and the variation of charge transfer resistance due to MUA-immobilization are well matched with their experimental counterparts, reporting only a 2% difference and being consistent with the experimental electrochemical behavior of the SPEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proline is an important amino acid, which is crucial to plant growth and development. Accurate analysis of proline content is of great significance for understanding its physiological mechanism in plants. In this paper, according to the requirements for in‐situ detection in plants in precision agriculture, an electrochemical molecular imprinted polymers (MIP) sensor for determining proline in living plants was developed. Polypyrrole (PPy) was used as the functional monomer. To improve the performance of the MIP sensor, Au nanoparticles (NPs) were electrodeposited on the screen‐printed electrodes (SPEs) electrode. Thionine (Thi) was then electropolymerized on the SPEs to be used as an internal reference signal molecule. The MIP‐based proline sensor has the widest detection range of 1×10−16 −0.01 M. And its detection limit is the lowest (9.18 aM) so far. It was also used for measuring free proline in the leaves of living cucumber seedlings under salt stress. The MIP‐based proline sensor has an important prospect for detecting the physiological status of plants in situ and will play an important role in smart agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prostate cancer (PCa) appears among the most frequently diagnosed types of malignancies in males. Because of the high demand and increasing detection rate of early PCa, alongside the specificity limitations of the gold standard clinical tools available for the diagnosis and prognosis of prostate cancer, there is an urgent need for more reliable PCa markers and highly sensitive diagnostic tools to avoid under-treatment and over-diagnosis. PCA3, or prostate cancer antigen 3, is a potential prostate cancer biomarker that is more specific and useful for preventing unnecessary repeat biopsies, particularly in men with persistently high prostate-specific antigen indices after a negative biopsy. Additionally, an electrochemically based biosensor would prove to be a powerful diagnostic tool for PCA3 detection in urine because of its simplicity, sensitivity, and cost-effectiveness, in contrast to the more traditional PCa diagnostics that depend on blood testing. This paper aimed to design a novel and simple electrochemical impedimetric biosensor based on a label-free RNA-aptamer (CG3-PCA3) as the molecular recognition element for detecting PCA3. The proposed aptasensor for the detection of PCA3 has been developed using a screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) modified by gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), further improving sensitivity and allowing the immobilisation of thiolate aptamers on its surface. The findings presented here demonstrated a high sensitivity to PCA3, with a detection limit of 20 fM in artificial urine and 1 fM in buffer. These results indicate that the PCA3 aptasensor could be a promising tool for routine PCa diagnosis due to its high sensitivity and cost-effectiveness.

The paper describes the development and application of a screen-printed electrode cell with a graphite-ink working electrode modified by a molecularly imprinted electropolymerized polypyrrole for the voltammetric determination of the herbicide 4‑chloro-2-methylphenoxyacetic acid (MCPA). The method exploits the direct measurement of the analyte by applying the differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) technique, taking advantage of the irreversible oxidation peak at about +1.0 V vs. Ag/AgCl pseudo reference electrode. The presence of the molecularly imprinted polypyrrole enhances the sensor's selectivity and sensitivity. A chemometric approach has been crucial for quantitative analysis because of the peak's broad and not well-defined shape. Firstly, a proper pretreatment of the voltammetric signals is identified, proving the most effective is the first-derivative function transformation of the signal. The Partial Least Square regression (PLS) is the tool applied for MCPA quantification. A preliminary PLS model has been developed and validated in dihydrogen phosphate solution at pH 5.5, aiming to optimize the data treatment approach. Then, the same approach is used to develop a PLS model analyzing tap water samples fortified with MCPA and other pesticides as possible interferents to simulate contaminated natural waters. The model correctly predicted the analyte concentration in the range of 2.5–75 μM, assuring the reliability and robustness of the sensor for the possible quantification of MCPA in wastewater samples.

This work developed a conductive ink composed of carbonaceous material for printing electrochemical sensors. The optimized ink comprises graphite, carbon black, and nail polish, respectively (35.3:11.7:53%), as well as acetone as a solvent. The proportion was optimized with consideration of the binder’s solubilization, the ink’s suitability for the screen-printing process, and lower electrical resistance. The materials used, and the resulting ink, were analyzed by way of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The charge transfer resistance (Rct) obtained was 0.348 kΩ. The conductive ink was used to print an electrode on a PET substrate, and a flexible and disposable electrode was obtained. The electroactive area obtained was 13.7 cm2, which was calculated by the Randles-Sevcik equation. The applicability of the device was demonstrated with a redox probe, providing a sensitivity of 0.02 µ A L mmol−1. The conductive ink has adequate homogeneity for producing electrodes using the screen-printing technique, with a low estimated production cost of $ 0.09 mL−1.

Clays have been exploited in the manufacture of diverse products from ceramics to paints, pharmaceuticals, plastics, cosmetics, and more. Thus, they can be used in many industrial applications, showing good adsorbent ability thanks to their lamellar structure, high cation exchange capacity, pore size distribution, and large surface area. For this reason, considerable attention has been paid to their in-depth characterization, for further integration in sectors such as biomedicine, construction, remediation, aerospace, and nanotechnology. For this aim, two samples of natural clays, ALO1 and PRE4, from the southeast part of Albania, were subject to a multi-methodological characterization, with the aim of addressing the use of such geomaterials in possible sensing applications. X-ray fluorescence analysis, morphological characterization of the samples, and energy-dispersive system spectroscopy pointed to an extreme mineralogical variety, with kaolinite in AL01 and montmorillonite in PRE4 as the most abundant phases. This fact was further confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction, showing a quartz content of 20%, a kaolinite content of 64%, and a muscovite content of 16% for ALO1; meanwhile, for PRE4, we found a content of quartz of 45%, a content of montmorillonite of 34.9%, and a content of clinochlore of 20%. Infrared spectroscopy and thermal analyses confirmed the presence of hydroxyl groups in both samples, suggesting a higher content in ALO1. Measurement of N2 adsorption isotherms on the clay samples yields specific surface areas of 87 m2/g for PRE4 and 32 m2/g for ALO1, pore volumes of 0.721 cm3/g for PRE4 and 0.637 cm3/g for ALO1, and similar pore sizes in the range of 6–12 nm. Electrochemical analysis highlighted a good conductivity of ALO1 and PRE4 when used for the modification of commercial carbon-based screen-printed electrodes. In detail, higher currents were registered by differential pulse voltammetry for the electrodes modified with the clays with respect to bare electrodes, as well as good repeatability of the measurements. In addition, a comparative study with nanomaterials, known for their good conductivity, was achieved, using carbon black and gold nanoparticles as a reference, showing that the conductivity of the clays was lower than but not so different from those of the reference materials.

Globally, waterborne viral infections significantly threaten public health. While current European Union regulations stipulate that drinking water must be devoid of harmful pathogens, they do not specifically address the presence of enteric viruses in water used for irrigation or food production. Traditional virus detection methods rely on molecular biology assays, requiring specialized personnel and laboratory facilities. Here, we describe an electrochemical sandwich enzyme-linked immunomagnetic assay (ELIME) for the detection of the hepatitis A virus (HAV) in water matrices. This method employed screen-printed electrodes as the sensing platform and utilized commercially available pre-activated magnetic beads to provide a robust foundation for the immunological reaction. The ELIME assay demonstrated exceptional analytical performance in only 185 min achieving a detection limit of 0.5 genomic copies per milliliter (g.c./mL) and exhibiting good reproducibility with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of 7% in HAV-spiked drinking and processing water samples. Compared with the real-time RT-qPCR method described in ISO 15216-1, the ELIME assay demonstrated higher sensitivity, although the overall linearity of the method was moderate. These analytical attributes highlight the potential of the ELIME assay as a rapid and viable alternative for HAV detection in water used for agriculture and food processing.

Abstract Proline is an important amino acid, which is crucial to plant growth and development. Accurate analysis of proline content is of great significance for understanding its physiological mechanism in plants. In this paper, according to the requirements for in‐situ detection in plants in precision agriculture, an electrochemical molecular imprinted polymers (MIP) sensor for determining proline in living plants was developed. Polypyrrole (PPy) was used as the functional monomer. To improve the performance of the MIP sensor, Au nanoparticles (NPs) were electrodeposited on the screen‐printed electrodes (SPEs) electrode. Thionine (Thi) was then electropolymerized on the SPEs to be used as an internal reference signal molecule. The MIP‐based proline sensor has the widest detection range of 1×10−16 −0.01 M. And its detection limit is the lowest (9.18 aM) so far. It was also used for measuring free proline in the leaves of living cucumber seedlings under salt stress. The MIP‐based proline sensor has an important prospect for detecting the physiological status of plants in situ and will play an important role in smart agriculture.