Fabrication of an interpenetrated network of carbon nanotubes and electroactive polymers to be used in oligonucletide biosensing

Layers of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNT), with different thickness, are built by sequential drop coating of a MWNT-Nafion ® dispersion in ethanol onto glassy carbon substrates. The layers form a 3D conductive network towards the electrochemical reactions of soluble redox couples (Fe 3+/2+ ) in aqueous solutions. Digital simulation of the electrochemical response suggests that the electron transfer is controlled by finite diffusion of the redox species inside the network. It is possible to create an interpenetrated network of carbon nanotubes and electroactive polymers (poly(hydroxynaphtoquinones)) by electropolymerization in nonaqueous media, which are electroactive in aqueous and nonaqueous media. The electrochemical response, both in cyclic voltammetry (CV) and square wave voltammetry (SWV), is significantly increased. In that way, the sensitivity of sensors (e.g. DNA biosensors based on the change of electroactive polymer response upon hybridization) could be improved.