A novel all-3D-printed cell-on-a-chip device as a useful electroanalytical tool: Application to the simultaneous voltammetric determination of caffeine and paracetamol

In this work, we describe a novel electrochemical cell-on-a-chip device fabricated entirely by 3D printing. The device was 3D-printed via a single-step process using a dual extruder 3D printer and is composed of a transparent miniature cell (printed from a polylactic acid non-conductive filament) with 3 electrodes integrated on the sides of the vessel (printed from a carbon-loaded acrylonitrile butadiene styrene conductive filament). The integrated cell-on-a-chip device costs only $0.11 (in terms of materials) and is ready-to-use without the requirement for activation before use. The analytical usefulness of the 3D-printed device is demonstrated for the simultaneous determination of paracetamol and caffeine in pharmaceutical tablets and in urine by differential pulse voltammetry. The electrochemical cell-on-a-chip device exploits the significant advantages of 3D-printing (mainly high fabrication speed and reproducibility, low equipment and materials cost, flexibility and transferability of the design and eco-friendliness) and is a promising integrated sensor for routine and on-site applications. [Display omitted] •An integrated electrochemical 3D-printed device was fabricated.•The single step fabrication process employed conductive and non-conductive filaments.•The 3D-printed cell was applied to voltammetric analysis of paracetamol and caffeine.•The 3D-printed chip is suitable for routine and on-site applications.