Electrochemical Method Assisted Immobilization and Orientation of Myoglobin into Biomimetic Brij 56 Film and Its Direct Electrochemistry Study

A simple cyclic voltammetric method was applied to assemble and orient a model protein, namely, myoglobin (Mb), into a biocompatible Brij 56 film. Ultraviolet–visible and circular dichroism spectra indicated that Mb in Brij 56 matrix preserved its secondary structure. Fourier transform infrared spectra confirmed the formation of hydrogen bonds between Mb and Brij 56. These hydrogen bonds acted as the electron tunnel to transfer electrons from Mb’s active sites to the underlying glassy carbon electrode. Effective direct electron transfer of Mb was realized with the presence of a couple of quasi-reversible and well-defined redox peaks at −310 mV (vs standard calomel electrode) in the studied potential range. The peaks were attributed to the redox couple of heme Fe(II)/Fe(III) of the well-oriented Mb in Brij 56 matrix. The surface coverage and the electron transfer rate (ks) of Mb immobilized into the Brij 56 film was ∼4.9 × 10–11mol cm–2and 72.6 ± 3.0 s–1, respectively. An excellent electrocatalytic response of the immobilized Mb toward nitrite in the absence of electron transfer mediators was observed. These results emphasized that the biomimetic Brij 56 could be used as an attractive material for immobilizing proteins and constructing biosensors.