Manufacture of new conductive filaments for the production of electrochemical sensors

• Grant number: 23/00317-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: December 01, 2023
• End date: February 28, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Analytical Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Bruno Campos Janegitz
• Grantee: Wilson da Silva Fernandes Junior
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Agrárias (CCA). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). Araras , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 17/21097-3 - Bee-agriculture interactions: perspectives to sustainable use, AP.BTA.TEM

Abstract

Additive manufacturing, commonly known as 3D printing, is a technique used for the production of objects and prototypes from data of a three-dimensional drawn model, using the layer upon layer fabrication until the object is produced. 3D printing is a technology used in several areas, mainly due to its attributes such as ease and fast object production, and reduction in waste generation. Thereby, electrochemical sensors can be produced using this technique, reducing costs and allowing mass production. For the production of the electrochemical sensors, it is necessary to use conductive filaments, however, commercial conductive filaments are considered relatively expensive, as they are imported into Brazil, in addition to not being produced for electrochemical purposes, and may have lower performances compared to other sensory platforms. Considering this, laboratory-made filaments stand out for reducing import dependency and for the possibility of controlling the electrical conduction of the material produced. With the electrochemical sensors developed with these filaments, it is possible to detect various analytes, such as antibiotics. Antibiotics are pharmaceutical drugs used to treat bacterial infections in humans and animals, but when improperly administered or in large doses, these drugs can cause bioaccumulation in humans or animal products, such as meat, milk, and honey. Therefore, the aim of this project is the production of conductive filaments for the construction of electrochemical sensors for antibiotics detection in food samples.