An Electrochemical ATP Biosensor with Enzymes Entrapped within a PEDOT Film

This paper reports on the electrochemical behavior of an ATP biosensor that utilizes glucose oxidase (GOx) and hexokinase (Hex) immobilized within the electroactive polymer, polyethylenedioxythiophene (PEDOT). This biosensor design detects ATP indirectly at 0.85 V vs. Ag/AgCl based on the oxidation current for enzymatically generated H₂O₂, and at −0.20 V; a potential at which improved analyte selectivity is achieved. The detection figures of merit at both detection potentials are a response time of 15±1 s, an experimental detection limit of 10.0±0.2 μmol L⁻¹ (S/N=3), and a sensitivity in the range of 100–500 mA M⁻¹cm⁻².     

Secondary poly(propylene) from used accumulators reused as raw material

A reuse process, as raw material, of secondary poly(propylene) from used accumulators, is presented. The importance of solving the scientific aspects, concerning the influence of residual impurities and those resulted from ageing, on properties of regenerated polymers, in certifying the reliability of reusing the secondary polymers as a raw material, is underlined.     

New Hydrogels Based on Agarose/Phytagel and Peptides

Short aromatic peptide derivatives, i.e., peptides or amino acids modified with aromatic groups, such as 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc), can self-assemble into extracellular matrix-like hydrogels due to their nanofibrillar architecture. Among different types of amino acids, lysine (Lys) and glycine (Gly) are involved in multiple physiological processes, being key factors in the proper growth of cells, carnitine production, and collagen formation. The authors have previously successfully presented the possibility of obtaining supramolecular gels based on Fmoc-Lys-Fmoc and short peptides such as Fmoc-Gly-Gly-Gly in order to use them as a substrate for cell cultures. This paper investigates how the introduction of a gelling polymer can influence the properties of the network as well as the compatibility of the resulting materials with different cell types. A series of hydrogel compositions consisting of combinations of Fmoc-Lys-Fmoc and Fmoc-Gly-Gly-Gly with Agarose and Phytagel are thus obtained. All compositions form structured gels as shown by rheological studies and scanning electron microscopy. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis evidences the formation of H-bonds between the polysaccharides and amino acids or short peptides. Moreover, all gels exhibit good cell viability on fibroblasts as demonstrated by a live-dead staining test and good in vivo biocompatibility, which highlights the great potential of these biomaterials for biomedical applications.