Characterisation and analytical use of a polypyrrole electrode containing anti-human serum albumin Original Research Article

The direct incorporation of anti-human serum albumin (AHSA) into a polypyrrole (PP) film by galvanostatic polymerisation is a simple method for the preparation of an electrochemical sensor. However, the reproducibility of this approach is an area that requires attention. The amount of antibody incorporated during polymer formation increases with increasing AHSA concentration and decreasing current density. Binding of HSA to the polymer-confined AHSA occurs readily, but is accompanied by a relatively large proportion of non-specific interactions. The presence of phosphate ions hinders to a certain extent the PP/AHSA–HSA binding. Detection of HSA by flow-injection analysis is possible using the PP/AHSA electrode operated under pulsed amperometric conditions in a NaNO3 carrier solution. Pretreatment of the electrode with a bovine serum albumin solution was found to decrease the response due to non-specific binding.