Electrochemical Strips Modified with Zeolites Embedding Silver Clusters for Versatile (Bio)Systems

Disposable biosensors provide high portability and advantageous response time, which are crucial in the next generation of analytical platforms. Herein, we report on zeolites embedding silver clusters as an electroactive material that enhances the electrode-analyte interaction in disposable electrochemical strips made of plastic or paper. The resulting analytical platform effectively immobilizes analytes and facilitates electron exchange transfer. Two detection mechanisms were explored in the electrodes decorated with zeolites embedding silver clusters. The oxidative-reductive character of zeolites embedding silver clusters was applied for chloride ion detection, which is suitable for environmental analysis. Additionally, the electrocatalytic activity of the composite was applied in glucose sensing in the presence of glucose oxidase, demonstrating the versatility of the composites for detecting molecules of a different nature (clinically or environmentally relevant) without further modification. Our approach contributes to the development of simple and low-cost modification procedures for integrating electroactive materials into miniaturized electrochemical sensors for portable platforms and point-of-care devices.