Organic phase PPO biosensor based on hydrophilic films of electropolymerized polypyrrole

We described herein, the construction of an organic phase enzyme electrode (OPEE) via polyphenol oxidase (PPO) entrapment within a hydrophilic polypyrrole film electrogenerated from on a new bispyrrolic derivative (1) containing a long hydrophilic spacer. The so-called “adsorption step procedure” was adopted for the preparation of the organic phase PPO biosensor. The amperometric detection of catechol was carried out in anhydrous chloroform at −0.2 V versus Ag/AgCl. The electroanalytical parameters of the biosensor strongly depend on its configuration and on the hydration state of the enzyme matrix. The best sensitivity obtained for catechol in chloroform was 15.6 mA M−1 cm−2.