Development of new polymeric platforms for ammonia and urea electrochemical detection

Author(s)

Mariana Pereira Massafera

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Conjunto das Químicas (IQ e FCF) (CQ/DBDCQ)
• Defense date: 2010-11-04

Examining board members

Susana Ines Cordoba de Torresi; Mauro Bertotti; Frank Nelson Crespilho; Lauro Tatsuo Kubota; Paulo Teng An Sumodjo

• Advisor: Susana Ines Cordoba de Torresi

Abstract

This work presents the development of (bio)sensors based on conventional and nanostructured polymeric platforms. The analyzed sensors contain poly(pyrrole) as electrochemical transducer, responsible for ammonia oxidation at 0.35 V. As the enzyme urease catalytically hydrolyses urea to ammonia, after enzyme immobilization onto poly(pyrrole), a biosensor for urea indirect detection, via ammonia, is obtained. Ammonia sensing by poly(pyrrole) was optimized in terms of both charge density of poly(pyrrole) present in the sensor and working potential. In sequence, poly(5-amino-1-naphtol) role as interferents (uric and ascorbic acids) signal blocker was verified. After optimization of the base-sensor, the influence of urease immobilization method on both detection sensitivity and biosensor durability was investigated. It was found that the small amount of enzyme immobilized using the compared methods limited detection sensitivities, and then nanostructuration of poly(pyrrole) was implemented, in order to increase the surface area available for urease immobilization. Nanostructured poly(pyrrole) films (macroporous and nanowires) were prepared, and the fully understanding of the observed phenomena was only possible combining geometric characteristics and physical-chemical properties related to nanostructured systems. (AU)