Conducting polymer-based sensors for food and drug analysis

Chia-Hsin Lin, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taiwan
Jia-Hui Lin, Institute of Applied Mechanics, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
Chien-Fu Chen, Institute of Applied Mechanics, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
Yoshihiro Ito, Emergent Bioengineering Materials Research Team, RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science, Saitama, Japan
Shyh-Chyang Luo, Nano Medical Engineering Laboratory, RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering Research, Saitama, JapanFollow

Keywords

conducting polymers, electrochemical sensors, quartz crystal microbalance, food and drug analysis, nanocomposites

Abstract

Conducting polymers (CPs) are a category of polymeric materials with conjugated main chains. The characteristic electrical and optical properties of CPs can be fine-tuned through controlling the doping states of CPs. Because of their long-term stability in water, CPs have been demonstrated as electroactive biointerfaces and electrode materials especially in aqueous environments. Serving as multifunctional interfaces and organic electrodes for the integration bioelectronics and devices, CPs have been studied and applied in various biological applications. This paper provides a review of conducting polymer–based electrochemical sensors, particularly those used in biological fields. General conducting polymers and derivatives and their main electrochemical sensing platforms with different design of devices are introduced. Cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry, chronoamperometry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and quartz crystal microbalance methods and their features are then explored as detection methods for the analysis of drugs and food. To enhance the sensitivity and lower the detection limit of sensing platforms, various CP-based nanocomposites have been designed and developed. Although the electrodes made of CP-based nanocomposites usually outperform those made of pristine CPs, more systematic studies are required to provide insights into the design of nanocomposite-based electrodes. More applications of CP-based sensors for advanced food and drug analyses are expected.

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Recommended Citation

Lin, Chia-Hsin; Lin, Jia-Hui; Chen, Chien-Fu; Ito, Yoshihiro; and Luo, Shyh-Chyang (2021) "Conducting polymer-based sensors for food and drug analysis," Journal of Food and Drug Analysis: Vol. 29 : Iss. 4 , Article 2.
Available at: https://doi.org/10.38212/2224-6614.3374