Biosensors based on electropolymerized films: new trends

Electropolymerized films have received considerable attention in the development of biosensors and biochips, and are advancing rapidly. This paper reviews recent advances and scientific progress in electrochemical immobilization procedures for biological macromolecules on electrodes via electrogenerated polymer films. Biomolecule immobilization is classified as covalent linkage, attachment by affinity interactions, and physical entrapment. The last approach entails the use of conducting and non-conducting films, composite polymer films, and templates for the electropolymerization process. Some advances in the electrochemical transduction of biological events (enzymatic reaction, immunoreaction, or oligonucleotide hybridization) involving the redox properties or the conductivity of electropolymerized films are also presented.