Derivatives of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) for Enzyme-Immobilized Conducting Polymer: Toward Development of Biofuel Cells and Biosensors

Biofuel cells are electrochemical cells that use biological processes to generate a current, and when paired with a biosensor, they can be used to power electronics within the human body.1 Monomers, such as hydroxymethyl-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (HM-EDOT), can be electropolymerized into a conducting polymer that is capable of a high rate of electron transfer, and can increase the flow of current on the electrode surface. HM-EDOT is a suitable monomer for this project because it has a hydroxyl functional group, which allows for increased solubility in aqueous environments. The monomer HM-EDOT can be functionalized and synthesized into carboxylic acid-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (COOH-EDOT)2, which gives an available site for covalent attachment. An enzyme, such as horseradish peroxidase (HRP), can be covalently attached to the monomer or the conducting polymer and still maintain catalytic and enzymatic function. This project focuses on determining the optimal electropolymerization conditions for HM-EDOT, characterization of the resulting polymer, the synthesis of COOH-EDOT, the polymerization of the synthesis product, and the covalent attachment of HRP