Silk biocomposites as flexible and biodegradable electrochemical sensors

摘要

We describe a "green" and versatile approach to fabricate flexible, micropatterned biosensors using photoactive silk proteins and conductive polymers. An electroactive ink comprising poly (3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene: poly (styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT: PSS), and a biorecognition enzyme using the silk protein sericin as a carrier enables the formation of electrochemical biosensors. High resolution micropatterning of the ink via photolithography using only water as a solvent, permits the "green" formation of biosensors on rigid as well as flexible substrates. The ink can be used as an ion transducer coating on conventional microelectrodes, or as flexible electrodes without a conductive support. The fabricated sensors show high sensitivity and selectivity, coupled with biocompatibility and controllable biodegradation under enzymatic action.