Anionic polysaccharides as templates for the synthesis of conducting polyaniline and as structural matrix for conducting biocomposites

Abstract

A green chemoenzymatic pathway for the synthesis of conducting polyaniline (PANI) composites is presented. Laccase-catalyzed polymerization in combination with anionic polysaccharides is used to produce polysaccharide/PANI composites, which can be processed into flexible films or coated onto cellulose surfaces. Different polysaccharide templates are assessed, including κ-carrageenan, native spruce O-acetyl galactoglucomannan (GGM), and TEMPO-oxidized cellulose and GGM. The resulted conducting biocomposites derived from natural materials provide a broad range of potential applications, such as in biosensors, electronic devices, and tissue engineering.

Keywords: conducting biocomposites; enzymes; polyaniline; polysaccharide templates.