Electrochemically produced local pH changes stimulating (bio)molecule release from pH-switchable electrode-immobilized avidin-biotin systems

Immobilized avidin-biotin complexes were used to release biotinylated (bio)molecules upon producing local pH changes near an electrode surface by electrochemical reactions. The nitro-avidin complex with biotin was dissociated by increasing local pH with electrochemical O-2 reduction. The avidin complex with iminobiotin was split by decreasing local pH with electrochemical oxidation of ascorbate. Both studied systems were releasing molecule cargo species in response to small electrical potentials (-0.4 V or 0.2 V for the O-2 reduction or ascorbate oxidation, respectively) applied on the modified electrodes.

Automated summary

The immobilized avidin-biotin complexes were used to release biotinylated molecules by inducing local pH changes near the electrode surface through electrochemical reactions. The nitro-avidin complex was dissociated by increasing pH with electrochemical O-2 reduction, while the avidin complex was split by decreasing pH with electrochemical oxidation of ascorbate. The release of molecule cargo species was achieved by applying small electrical potentials on the modified electrodes (-0.4 V or 0.2 V for the O-2 reduction or ascorbate oxidation, respectively).