TY  - JOUR
A1  - Schusser, Sebastian
A1  - Krischer, Maximillian
A1  - Bäcker, Matthias
A1  - Poghossian, Arshak
A1  - Wagner, Patrick
A1  - Schöning, Michael Josef
T1  - Monitoring of the Enzymatically Catalyzed Degradation of Biodegradable Polymers by Means of Capacitive Field-Effect Sensors
JF  - Analytical Chemistry
N2  - Designing novel or optimizing existing biodegradable polymers for biomedical applications requires numerous tests on the effect of substances on the degradation process. In the present work, polymer-modified electrolyte–insulator–semiconductor (PMEIS) sensors have been applied for monitoring an enzymatically catalyzed degradation of polymers for the first time. The thin films of biodegradable polymer poly(d,l-lactic acid) and enzyme lipase were used as a model system. During degradation, the sensors were read-out by means of impedance spectroscopy. In order to interpret the data obtained from impedance measurements, an electrical equivalent circuit model was developed. In addition, morphological investigations of the polymer surface have been performed by means of in situ atomic force microscopy. The sensor signal change, which reflects the progress of degradation, indicates an accelerated degradation in the presence of the enzyme compared to hydrolysis in neutral pH buffer media. The degradation rate increases with increasing enzyme concentration. The obtained results demonstrate the potential of PMEIS sensors as a very promising tool for in situ and real-time monitoring of degradation of polymers.
Y1  - 2015
U6  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.5b00617
SN  - 1520-6882
VL  - 87
IS  - 13
SP  - 6607
EP  - 6613
PB  - ACS Publications
CY  - Washington, DC
ER  -