Graphene derivative-based ink advances inkjet printing technology for fabrication of electrochemical sensors and biosensors

Biosens Bioelectron. 2024 Jul 15:256:116277. doi: 10.1016/j.bios.2024.116277. Epub 2024 Apr 7.

Abstract

The field of biosensing would significantly benefit from a disruptive technology enabling flexible manufacturing of uniform electrodes. Inkjet printing holds promise for this, although realizing full electrode manufacturing with this technology remains challenging. We introduce a nitrogen-doped carboxylated graphene ink (NGA-ink) compatible with commercially available printing technologies. The water-based and additive-free NGA-ink was utilized to produce fully inkjet-printed electrodes (IPEs), which demonstrated successful electrochemical detection of the important neurotransmitter dopamine. The cost-effectiveness of NGA-ink combined with a total cost per electrode of $0.10 renders it a practical solution for customized electrode manufacturing. Furthermore, the high carboxyl group content of NGA-ink (13 wt%) presents opportunities for biomolecule immobilization, paving the way for the development of advanced state-of-the-art biosensors. This study highlights the potential of NGA inkjet-printed electrodes in revolutionizing sensor technology, offering an affordable, scalable alternative to conventional electrochemical systems.

Keywords: Biosensor; Dopamine detection; Functionalized graphene ink; Inkjet printing.

MeSH terms

  • Biosensing Techniques* / instrumentation
  • Dopamine* / analysis
  • Electrochemical Techniques* / instrumentation
  • Electrochemical Techniques* / methods
  • Electrodes
  • Equipment Design
  • Graphite* / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Ink*
  • Nitrogen / chemistry
  • Printing*

Substances

  • Graphite
  • Dopamine
  • Nitrogen