Biosensors
Biosensors: Printable Materials for Screen Printed Electrodes
Dycotec Materials has an extensive portfolio of paste systems to manufacture screen printed biosensors including for reference, working and counter electrodes.
Our sensor systems are used in applications such as agriculture, marine farming, medical including point of care diagnostics for early disease prediction and detection, safety, eHealth patch systems or test strips and for monitoring contamination eg aviation fuel systems.
Which Materials Are Used for Biosensor Electrodes?
Dycotec provides a coordinated set of paste systems covering each functional layer of a screen printed biosensor. The table below maps common biosensor architectures to the working, reference, counter, signal transfer, novel paste, and dielectric materials used to build them.
| Application | Working Electrode | Reference Electrode | Counter Electrode | Signal Transfer | Novel Paste | Dielectric |
| Ion Selective Electrodes | 4402 | 3400 (70/30)-3450 (60/40) | - | 3069(Ag)-3074(Ag) | 6100-6102 | 6060-7015(UV) |
| Biosensors eg Glucose | 4410SL | 3400 (70/30)-3450 (60/40) | 4410SL | 3069(Ag)-3074(Ag) | - | 6401-7015(UV) |
| Aptamer | 14040(Au) | 14001(Ag) | 14050(Pt)-14001(Ag) | 14001(Ag) | - | - |
| Wearable | 4402 | 3400 (70/30) - 3450 (60/40) | - | 3069(Ag) - 3074(Ag) | 6101 (solid state electrolyte) | 6401 - 7015(UV) |
| Drug Delivery | 4402 | 3400 (70/30) - 3450 (60/40) | - | 3069(Ag) - 3074(Ag) | 6101 (solid state electrolyte) | - |
Dycotec also provides novel formulations for barrier layers for reference electrodes and for junction layer membranes that can be screen or stencil printed. In addition, our range of stretchable paste systems is used in biosensing applications such as electrocardiogram (ECG) measurement, where the sensor must move with the skin.
Examples of Biosensors
Agriculture
A four electrode sensor device has been manufactured to allow eight ion concentrations to be measured (Na, Cl, K, NO3, PO4, Ca, NH4, and Mg). These sensors are produced by screen printing and use DM-CAP-4402 as a hydrophobic carbon paste for the electrode material. The hydrophobic behaviour minimises unwanted and stray capacitance effects, resulting in more reliable and accurate test data. The devices are based on our hard thermoset silver paste, DM-SIP-3069, which ensures the biosensors are robust and compatible with ZIF connectors. The overcoat layer is formed using our overcoat, DM-OC-6050S.
Marine Farming
Dycotec biosensor materials are used in a six ion electrode system with a screen printed reference electrode. This multilayer sensor uses Dycotec's proprietary solid state electrolyte (DM-OC-6101S) in combination with additional barrier layers and junction layers developed specifically for the application. Reference electrodes are manufactured from DM-SIP-3450S. These sensors exhibit low reference electrode drift and have a shelf life of more than three months, even when submerged in seawater containing high levels of chloride.
Aptamer Measurements
Aptamer sensors have been manufactured on ceramic substrates using our range of thick film pastes. Gold paste (DM-AUP-14040) was used to produce the working and counter electrodes, and silver paste (DM-SIP-14001) to create a pseudo reference electrode.
Prototype Development and Scale-Up Support
Biosensor devices often need custom materials, and we have a laboratory dedicated to supporting biosensor development. Our capabilities include:
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- Industrial screen printers and a range of IR, oven, furnace, and UV conveyors for manufacturing biosensors in low volume.
- Dedicated software and electronics support to develop biosensor protocols in conjunction with our customers.
- Purpose built test units for long term durability monitoring, with cloud systems developed for data capture.
These capabilities are delivered through our prototyping and development services, supported by design and modelling, durability testing, and custom formulations.
Please Get in touch to discuss your requirements, or explore the full biosensor product range.