Development and application of 3D printed electrochemical sensors for the detection of ciprofloxacin.

Abstract

Analytical chemistry is widely used in many fields, such as medicine, environment, and food, mainly because it offers analysis methods in several samples, which have a lower cost and faster results, as is the case of electrochemical sensors. Obtaining electrochemical devices and systems through additive manufacturing technology (or three-dimensional printing - 3D) has proved to be very attractive, presenting itself as a great ally in the development of new analysis methods. This occurs due to the possibility of manufacturing simple or complex three-dimensional objects, from different materials, in a versatile, autonomous way, with low cost and in reduced time. This technology allows the production of three-dimensional objects for the most varied applications in many areas of interest, with emphasis on analytical chemistry area. Recently, the use of conductive materials and, mainly, the manufacture of composite materials for the additive manufacture of conductive objects has proved to be a differential, as it has allowed its application in areas such as electroanalytical, in the development of sensors. In this context, there are possibilities for creating analytical apparatus in configurations not commercially available, including the printing of conductive electrodes modified with different materials, employed in the analysis of a wide range of analytes of interest. One possibile analysis is the detection of drugs, consumed on large scale by the population since self-medication is increasing in Brazil. Among the most well-known and prescribed drugs is ciprofloxacin, a broad-spectrum antibiotic. Therefore, this project aims to develop a complete electrochemical system, produced by additive manufacturing, using improved lab-made filaments, for the monitoring and detection of ciprofloxacin in environmental, biological, and food samples.