Today we had a live streaming webinar with IO Rodeo.
The webinar discussed how our US clients can source ZP’s carbon screen printed electrodes in the US from IO Rodeo.
What We Covered
1. Introduction to Zimmer and Peacock
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Founded in 2014, ZP is ISO 13485 certified, specializing in electrochemical biosensor development and manufacturing.
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Our product portfolio includes screen-printed electrodes, potentiostats, and biosensing solutions.
2. Why Screen-Printed Electrodes?
SPEs are a low-cost, easy-to-use platform with minimal sample prep—ideal for real-world applications. A great example? Glucose test strips, which demonstrate the power of SPEs in commercial biosensing.
3. Collaboration with IO Rodeo
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IO Rodeo has been distributing ZP’s 501 carbon electrodes in the U.S. since 2023.
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They offer packs of 10 or sheets of 100, making SPEs accessible for universities and startups.
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IO Rodeo specializes in open-source scientific hardware, including potentiostats and customizable instruments.
4. Turning SPEs into Biosensors
We discussed three key applications:
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Ion-selective electrodes (e.g., potassium, sodium) using ionophores.
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Small molecule detection (e.g., glucose, lactate) with enzyme-based sensors.
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Immunosensors (e.g., antibodies, aptamers) for proteins, viruses, and bacteria.
5. Live Electrochemistry Demos
We ran real-time experiments, including:
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Cyclic voltammetry with ferricyanide.
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Caffeine detection in a commercial beverage (Red Bull), showing how SPEs deliver fast, accurate results.
6. The “Valley of Death” in Commercialization
Many academic projects get stuck in early-stage development. At ZP, we focus on bridging the gap between research and market-ready products by ensuring repeatability, scalability, and ease of use.
7. Key Takeaways
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Carbon electrodes (like the 501) offer a low-cost, high-performance alternative to gold or platinum.
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Small sample volumes (just 50 µL!) make SPEs efficient for R&D.
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Open-source tools (like IO Rodeo’s potentiostat) and cloud-based data analysis (ZP’s Djuli system) streamline electrochemical workflows.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re in academia, a startup, or an industry lab, screen-printed electrodes offer a versatile, scalable platform for biosensing. And with partners like IO Rodeo, getting started is easier than ever.