Electrochemical paper-based devices: sensing approaches and progress toward practical applications.

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Paper-based sensors provide low-cost, portable analytical platforms.
• Electrochemical detection enhances sensitivity and selectivity of paper devices.
• Electrochemical paper-based analytical devices (ePADs) have advanced significantly over the past decade.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the growth and advancements in the field of ePADs.
• To discuss fabrication methods, sensing approaches, and applications of ePADs.
• To evaluate the progress, challenges, and future outlook of ePAD technology for field and point-of-care testing.

Main Methods:

• Review of fabrication techniques for ePADs, focusing on electrode fabrication.
• Evaluation of various electrochemical sensing approaches for ePADs.
• Analysis of recent applications in clinical diagnostics, environmental testing, and food analysis.

Main Results:

• Detailed discussion on electrode fabrication as a fundamental aspect of ePADs.
• Comparative analysis of different sensing strategies, outlining their applicability, benefits, and limitations.
• Presentation of diverse ePAD applications demonstrating their versatility.

Conclusions:

• ePAD technology has matured, meeting key specifications for field and point-of-care applications.
• Ongoing challenges and future research directions for ePADs are identified.
• ePADs represent a promising technology for accessible analytical testing.