Synthesis of defined monodisperse microgel-protein conjugates and immobilization on Gold and ITO

The goal of the study is to create a new method to preserve the activity of biocomponents. These active biocomponents will be further used to build up a photoelectrically driven enzyme system that combine bio-catalysis with electrochemistry with the final use as biosensor. In order to preserve the activity of proteins and enzymes, a novel way came up in the recent years: encapsulation in polymer microgels. In the first part of the thesis the encapsulation of enzymes and proteins will be exploited. The biocomponents that will be used are Glucose Oxidase and Bovine Serum Albumin. The encapsulation will be performed in two ways: with batch polymerization and with a pressure driven continuous synthesis plant (microfluidics device). The batch method gives a high rate of production with a low degree of monodispersity. The chosen polymer is Polyacrylamide. The activity after the syntheses will be characterized and for each synthesis a loss ratio will be defined. The characterization will contemplate also a morphological analysis. In order to reach a satisfactory loss ratio (good retaining of the enzymatic activity) the parameters of the synthesis will be engineered and the supplement of additives will be exploited. In order to reach a satisfactory degree of monodispersity, the microgel formation has been carried out by means of a microfluidics device. The parameters of the droplet formation will be presented. A smaller topic that will be touched in the thesis is the immobilization of the microgels onto gold electrodes and Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) electrodesin. Both physisorption and chemisorption will be treated.