Electronic transduction in model enzyme sensors assisted by a photoisomerizable azo-polymer

We develop a stochastic model of electronic transduction by means of a rod-like azo-polymer (single peptide molecule doped with a given amount of azo-benzene structural units) in polymer-redox enzyme biosensor. We propose a configuration where the azo-polymer is anchored next to the enzyme reaction center and functions as a light-driven micromechanical actuator shuttling electrons toward the electrode. We show that the output catalytic current is exponentially sensitive to variations in geometrical size of the polymer (a 'switch off' effect) and suggest a scheme where the switching effect is triggered by polymer photoisomerization, resulting in its overall length change.