Conducting polymer-protein interactions in composite films: a spectroscopic study

Because of the peculiar physics of polyconjugated molecules, the spectroscopic properties (infrared and Raman) can reflect with great detail the molecular properties of such materials. The vibrational spectra then become a unique tool for the molecular characterization of the materials in their pristine and doped state or when they are made to interact with additional guest molecules. In this paper we describe the effect, at the molecular level, of the inclusion of proteins (glucose oxidase and peroxidase) in films of host materials of the class of polythiophenes (in the doped state). Care was taken to keep the biological activity of the enzyme (guest) at a very reasonable level, even when embedded in the polymer host matrix. This study is aimed at contributing to the development of science and technology of novel devices in the field of bioelectronics, in which the polyconjugated material is used as an interface between the active enzyme and the inorganic moiety which elaborates the signal.