Screen-printed Electrochemical Sensors and Biosensors for Monitoring Metal Pollutants

Abstract

Abstract:The present review (with 231 references) focuses on developments made in the area of screen-printed biosensors and sensors for the determination of metal ions in industrial, environmental and biomedical applications. The year 2012 represents the twentieth anniversary of the first reported application of screen-printed electrodes for the determination of metal ions. Focus is placed on fabrication techniques, operating details and performance characteristics for the selected applications. The greater proportion of articles have utilised the technique of stripping voltammetry, gaining detection limits in the low ng/mL (ppb) region. An increasing percentage of these have explored bismuth as an alternative to mercury for the modification of the carbon electrode surface. However, a steady number of applications have shown the possibility of utilising the unmodified screen-printed carbon, gold or silver electrode surface. More recently the alternative approach of electrochemical biosensors has become a growing area. The majority of these have exploited the inhabitation metal ions exhibit on the enzyme activity of urease, acetylcholinesterase and glucose oxidase gaining detection limits in the sub µg/mL region, however recent applications utilising thiol-functionalised oligonucleotides have been shown the possibility of gaining detection limits as low as 120 ng/L for Hg .

Development of a voltammetric assay, using screen-printed electrodes, for clonazepam and its application to beverage and serum samples

“…More recent reports have utilised modifications of the working electrode surface such as with silver nanoparticle/multi walled carbon nanotube nanocomposites [39]. However, we do not feel that this approach will allow for mass production that has been shown by screen-printing [40,41]. The proposed method gives reliable results using the standard addition method.…”

Cheap and disposable gold and silver electrodes: Trends in the application of compact discs and digital versatile discs for electroanalytical chemistry

“…This lead to the method suffering from the perceived problems of toxicity and subsequent disposable issues led to a lack of market penetration. A number of different approaches have been made to overcome these issues, such as the use of less toxic metals and alloys; such as galinstan [39], Bi [40][41][42] and Sb [43] and alternative electrode materials such as screen-printed carbon [24]. Both Ag and Au electrodes have been used for some time in stripping voltammetry and offer a number of advantages in certain applications over other working electrode materials.…”

“…reviewed, principally, screen-printed electrodes [24] and the application of metal wire based electrodes [25]. The technique of screen-printing is highly attractive for the mass production of electrodes of the same formulation and dimensions.…”

The voltammetric behaviour of lead at a hand drawn pencil electrode and its trace determination in water by stripping voltammetry

“…A number of different carbon based materials and technologies have been commonly utilised such as glassy carbon [2], carbon paste [3] or screen-printed [4]. All of these approaches require some degree of expertise, preparation and care.…”

“…A number of different analytical methods have been utilised, including inductively coupled plasma [35] and atomic adsorption spectroscopy [36], requiring well equipped laboratories, refined gases and high electrical power consumption for their implementation. Electrochemical techniques have been highlighted [4,37] as an alternative method offering a number of advantages. Modern handheld instruments requiring little more than an appropriate power supply and can be even operated under battery power alone.…”