Multiphase material containing poly(l-glutamate) for biomembrane mimetic sensors

Since membrane-bound macromolecules provide the most general and powerful mechanisms for biological ion sensing and ion channelling, a new type of polymer-modified electrode was designed: a multiphase material consisting of poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile) and poly(l-glutamate) was synthesized as the block copolymer. The material has enabled polypeptides to be immobilized onto electrodes just by dipping. Electrochemical responses towards Ca²⁺ were obtained based on the permeability change of the redox-active species as the indicator. The modified electrode has remarkable stability due to the vinyl polymer chains which serve as building blocks of the membrane.