Cationic polythiophene biosensors

Conducting polymer-based immobilization or wired enzymes is a global enzyme immobilization method that differs in many respects from those just described. In one example, a redox polymer is formed on the surface by the oxidation of pyrrole molecules to pyrrole radical cations, which then polymerize on the surface to form conductive polypyrrole [60,68]. Other conducting polymers include polyvinylpyridine, polythiophene, polyaniline, and polyindole. If enzymes are present in the solution as polymerization takes place, they are entrapped within the polymer. When these polymers are cross-linked with redox mediators such as [Os(bpy)2Cl]+ 2 the resulting amperometric (or potentiomet-ric) biosensors are referred to as wired enzyme electrodes [5-7]. The distance between the redox centers of the polymer and the FADH2 centers of the reduced enzyme is reduced sufficiently for electrons to be transferred and, therefore, for the mediated electro-oxidation of glucose on conventional electrodes. These electrodes do not require diffusing redox mediators or membranes to contain the enzyme and the redox polymer. 

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