. . . . . . . . . .    ANM 2010     3rd International Conference on Advanced Nano Materials     12-15 September 2010 - Agadir, Morocco Back    Abstract ANMM129 ELECTROCHEMICAL BEHAVIOR OF PEPTIDE NANOWIRES/CONDUCTIVE POLYMER SYSTEMS FOR BIOSENSING APPLICATIONS Luigi Sasso, Jaime Castillo, Jenny Emnéus, Winnie E. Svendsen Technical University of Denmark, DTU Nanotech - Dept. of Micro- and Nanotechnology, Denmark . The EU project EXCELL aims at exploring and understanding how the insertion of nanostructures inside cells and the exposure of cells/tissues to nano-structured surfaces affect cell function dynamics. This investigation is carried out by developing sensors for intra- and extra cellular monitoring. This would give deeper insights into some biological dynamic processes such as gene and protein expression, metabolism, signalling, and physiological responses. Peptide based nanostructures are a candidate for the fabrication of 3-dimensional intra-cellular electrodes. This bio-material self-assembles into stiff tubular structures under mild conditions (aqueous solution at room temperature). Aside from their simple high-yield fabrication method, these peptide nanostructures are not toxic to cells, are mechanically and chemically stable, are resistant to some organic solvents, can be easily functionalized and can be used in various biological and non-biological applications. The work to be presented regards the functionalization of stiff vertical nanowires from β-amyloid peptides (diphenylalanine), grown by an aniline vapour treatment onto electrode surfaces. The nanostructures’ surface was modified and coated with conductive polymer materials such as polyaniline and polypyrrole. Polymer films were formed onto the peptide nanowires by a chemical electroless synthesis method, therefore creating conducting peptide/polymer nanowire structures vertically attached to a metal surface. The electrochemical behaviour of the modified metal electrode surfaces was studied with several electrochemical techniques such as cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry and impedance spectroscopy. These surface modifications with biocompatible materials, along with an increase in surface area of the metal surfaced yielded by the peptide structures, will allow the peptide nanowires to be used for biosensing applications. . © nanoAC . . . . . . . . . .

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