Synthesis of polypyrrole within the cell wall of yeast by redox-cycling of [Fe(CN)6]3−/[Fe(CN)6]4−

• Synthesis of polypyrrole (Ppy) within the cell wall of yeast is reported.
• Redox-cycling of [Fe(CN)6]3−/[Fe(CN)6]4− based on yeast metabolism was exploited for the formation of [Fe(CN)6]3− ions.
• Polypyrrole was synthesized by chemical oxidative polymerization induced by [Fe(CN)6]3−.
• Changes of physical properties of yeast cell membrane were observed by AFM and optical microscopy.

Yeast cells are often used as a model system in various experiments. Moreover, due to their high metabolic activity, yeast cells have a potential to be applied as elements in the design of biofuel cells and biosensors. However a wider application of yeast cells in electrochemical systems is limited due to high electric resistance of their cell wall. In order to reduce this problem we have polymerized conducting polymer polypyrrole (Ppy) directly in the cell wall and/or within periplasmic membrane. In this research the formation of Ppy was induced by [Fe(CN)6]3−ions, which were generated from K4[Fe(CN)6], which was initially added to polymerization solution. The redox process was catalyzed by oxido-reductases, which are present in the plasma membrane of yeast cells. The formation of Ppy was confirmed by spectrophotometry and atomic force microscopy. It was confirmed that the conducting polymer polypyrrole was formed within periplasmic space and/or within the cell wall of yeast cells, which were incubated in solution containing pyrrole, glucose and [Fe(CN)6]4−. After 24 h drying at room temperature we have observed that Ppy-modified yeast cell walls retained their initial spherical form. In contrast to Ppy-modified cells, the walls of unmodified yeast have wrinkled after 24 h drying. The viability of yeast cells in the presence of different pyrrole concentrations has been evaluated.

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