Preparing catalytic surfaces for sensing applications by immobilizing enzymes via hydrophobin layers

Simple and reliable immobilization techniques that preserve the activity of enzymes are of interest in many technologies based on catalysis. Here, two redox enzymes, glucose oxidase from Aspergillus niger and horseradish peroxidase, were immobilized by physisorption on glassy carbon electrodes coated with Schizophyllum commune hydrophobin. Hydrophobins are small, interfacially active proteins that have the remarkable property of adhering to almost any surface. We showed recently that these proteins can be used to immobilize small, electroactive molecules. The results obtained in this work show a way to easily manufacture stable, enzyme-based catalytic surfaces for applications in biosensing.