Electrochemical polymerization of 1-(4-nitrophenyl)-2,5-di(2-thienyl)-1 H-pyrrole as a novel immobilization platform for microbial sensing

Two types of bacterial biosensor were constructed by immobilization of Gluconobacter oxydans and Pseudomonas fluorescens cells on graphite electrodes modified with the conducting polymer; poly(1-(4-nitrophenyl)-2,5-di(2-thienyl)-1 H-pyrrole) [SNS(NO2)]. The measurement was based on the respiratory activity of cells estimated by the oxygen consumption at − 0.7 V due to the metabolic activity in the presence of substrate. As well as analytical characterization, the linear detection ranges, effects of electropolymerization time, pH and cell amount were examined by using glucose as the substrate. The linear relationships were observed in the range of 0.25–4.0 mM and 0.2–1.0 mM for G. oxydans and P. fluorescens based sensors, respectively.