Electrochemical Biosensing Techniques with Screen-Printed Electrodes

Electrochemical biosensors built on screen-printed electrodes (SPEs) combine miniaturisation, disposability and low cost with sensitive and selective detection of biological analytes. SPEs are fabricated by depositing conductive inks onto substrates such as ceramics or flexible polymers, enabling rapid mass production and integration with portable potentiostats. The performance of these sensors is driven by the choice of electrode material—carbon, gold, platinum or their composites—and by surface modification strategies that immobilise biorecognition elements such as enzymes, antibodies or nucleic acids. Carbon nanomaterials (graphene, carbon nanotubes, carbon black and carbon quantum dots) and metal nanoparticles (gold, silver, platinum) are commonly employed to enhance electron transfer, increase surface area and promote biocompatibility. These platforms support a range of electrochemical techniques including voltammetry, amperometry and impedance spectroscopy, and facilitate the development of enzyme-based sensors, immunosensors, DNA sensors and aptasensors. Practical applications extend from point-of-care diagnostics and environmental monitoring to food safety and agrochemical screening, reflecting the global significance of SPE-based biosensing technologies.

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Electrochemical Biosensing Techniques with Screen-Printed Electrodes publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in electrochemical biosensing techniques with screen-printed electrodes across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Screen-printed electrode: A disposable electrode produced by printing conductive ink onto a substrate to form working, counter and reference electrodes.

Electrochemical biosensor: A device that converts a biological recognition event into an electrical signal via redox reactions at an electrode surface.

Nanocomposite: A hybrid material combining nanoscale components (e.g. carbon nanomaterials, metal nanoparticles) to enhance mechanical, electrical or chemical properties.

Transducer: The element of a sensor that converts a biochemical interaction into a measurable electrical response.

Immobilisation: The process of attaching biorecognition molecules (enzymes, antibodies, nucleic acids) onto the electrode surface to confer specificity.

Aptasensor: A sensor that uses nucleic acid aptamers as the biorecognition element for selective target binding.

Immunosensor: A biosensor employing antibodies or antigens for selective detection of biomolecules.

Enzymatic biosensor: A biosensor utilising enzymes to catalyse reactions that generate an electrochemical signal proportional to analyte concentration.

References

1. Carbon Nanomaterials-Based Screen-Printed Electrodes for Sensing Applications. Biosensors (2023).
2. Printable Electrochemical Biosensors: A Focus on Screen-Printed Electrodes and Their Application. Sensors (2016).
3. Recent Advances in the Fabrication and Application of Screen-Printed Electrochemical (Bio)Sensors Based on Carbon Materials for Biomedical, Agri-Food and Environmental Analyses. Biosensors (2016).
4. Screen-Printed Electrodes: Fabrication, Modification, and Biosensing Applications. Chemosensors (2023).
5. Metal Nanoparticles and Carbon-Based Nanomaterials for Improved Performances of Electrochemical (Bio)Sensors with Biomedical Applications. Materials (2021).
6. Screen-Printed Electrodes (SPE) for In Vitro Diagnostic Purpose. Diagnostics (2020).
7. Improved Manufacturing Performance of Screen Printed Carbon Electrodes through Material Formulation. Biosensors (2016).
8. Nanotechnology: A Tool for Improved Performance on Electrochemical Screen‐Printed (Bio)Sensors. Journal of Sensors (2009).