Conducting Polymer Nanocomposites with Biological Materials

5 Conducting Polymer Nanocomposites with Biological Materials 

CP nanocomposites with DNA have been fabricated via several approaches [ 116-122]. He and co-workers demonstrated the fabrication of PANI nanowires using DNA as templates on thermally oxidized Si surfaces using a horseradish peroxidase (HRP) enzymatic polymerization approach [116]. Typical synthetic procedures involve three steps. First, the molecular combining method is used to fabricate double-stranded DNA immobilized 

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In addition to nucleic acids, enzymes have also been incorporated into conducting a polymer matrix for biosensor applications. As a transducer, a CP can convert the chemical response into an electric current. To enhance the sensitivity and the response time, fabrication of CPs/enzyme nanocomposites with large surface area is a meaningful objective. Syu and Chang demonstrated the immobilization of urease onto PPy nanotubes over carbon paper substrate by a physical entrapment approach [124]. The composite electrodes exhibited a detection sensitivity for the determination of urea of 53.74 mVdecade and a detection limit on the urea concentration of 1.0 pM. Furthermore, the composite electrode shows rapid response, storage stability and reusability. Lipase can also be covalently immobilized 

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Nanocomposites of conducting polymers exhibit improved physicochemical and biological properties as compared to their individual counterparts. The integration of secondary component within conducting polymer leads to dramatic increase in different properties that are useful from an application point of view. Size, shape and controlled distribution of the dispersed phase are the critical factors to control the desired properties of a nanocomposite. Different approaches such as in situ synthesis, one-pot synthesis, electrochemical polymerization and vapor-phase polymerization have been employed to synthesize the nanocomposites of conducting polymers with metal or metal oxide nanoparticles, carbon-based materials, ternary nanocomposites, etc. All of these methods have certain advantages and drawbacks. Functional nanocomposites synthesized by these methods display many... 

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