Photoinduced conductivity in mycosporine-like amino acids

• MAAs FET shows photoelectric effect upon UV illumination.
• Enhancement in photo conductance is due to the hydroxyl ethyl group.
• Potential as bio-opto-electrical devices applications.

Mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) are an important group of novel bioactive compounds having immense biotechnological potentials due to their UV screening properties and antioxidant activities. However, their photoelectric properties were not evaluated yet. In the present work two types of MAAs Shinorine and Porphyra-334, were extracted from algae; Chlamydomonas hedlyei and Porphyra yezoensis respectively and its electrical transport properties were investigated upon illumination of UV light. The combination of optical absorption and electron transport measurement of MAAs in a field effect transistor device reveals that these changes are mainly due to the carboxyl group present in MAAs. This study reports a platform technology for the development of novel biochemical–electrical devices.

Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide