Polymer thin films embedded with metal nanoparticles for electrochemical biosensors applications

Currently, polymer thin films embedded with metal nanoparticles provided the suitable microenvironment for biomolecules immobilization retaining their biological activity with desired orientation, to facilitate electron transfer between the immobilized enzymes and electrode surfaces, better conformation and high biological activity, resultant in enhanced sensing performance. This article reviews focus on various methods for brief discussion of fabrication of metal nanoparticles-polymer hybrid materials and their applications in different electrochemical biosensors. The performance of hybrid materials based electrochemical biosensor can be improved by synergic properties of the metal nanoparticles and polymer network with biomolecules interface via engineering of morphology, particle size, effective surface area, functionality, adsorption capability and electron-transfer properties. These attractive features to hybrid materials are expected to find applications in a new generation of miniaturized, smart biochip devices. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.