Enzymatic self-wiring

Abstract

Redox conducting polymers “Wires” have been widely used as a electron mediators between enzyme active sites and electrode surfaces in electrochemical biosensors. We report that a peroxidase is able to generate a molecular wire through its own enzymatic catalyzed reaction. The catalytic reaction is the polymerization of aniline to form conducting polyaniline. The polyaniline molecular wire is then capable of transducing the enzyme’s catalytic turnover into an electrochemical signal. In effect we demonstrate the selective bridging of the gap between nano and macroscales in a functional fashion (electrical conductivity) using the catalytic capabilities of the nanostructure.