The effect of the oxidation state of a terthiophene-conducting polymer and of the presence of a redox probe on its gene-sensing properties

Biosens Bioelectron. 2008 Dec 1;24(4):934-9. doi: 10.1016/j.bios.2008.07.053. Epub 2008 Aug 5.

Abstract

The gene-sensing properties of sensor films made of a terthiophene-conducting polymer, poly(3-((2':2'', 5'':2'''-terthiophene)-3''-yl)acrylic acid) (PTAA), were evaluated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy for films in their reduced and oxidised states with and without the Fe(CN)(6)(3-/4-) redox probe (RP) in dilute tris-EDTA buffer. Porous films of PTAA were prepared and attached to an oligonucleotide sequence specific to the Salmonella virulence gene InvA. These films could be described with a dual transmission line model in which the polymer conductivity was increased as a consequence of surface binding of complementary DNA. The effect is analogous to that reported for silicon nanowires and field-effect transistors in dilute electrolyte modified by charge exchange across the polymer-electrolyte interface. As a result, gene sensing could be conveniently observed as a change in the impedance phase angle at a fixed frequency.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / analysis*
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics*
  • Biosensing Techniques / instrumentation
  • Biosensing Techniques / methods
  • DNA, Bacterial / analysis*
  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics*
  • Electric Conductivity
  • Electrochemistry / instrumentation*
  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Gene Expression Profiling / instrumentation*
  • Gene Expression Profiling / methods
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Polymers / chemistry
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Salmonella / genetics*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Thiophenes / chemistry*

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • DNA, Bacterial
  • Polymers
  • Thiophenes
  • alpha-terthienyl
  • invA protein, Bacteria