Adsorption kinetics of catalase to thin films of carbon nanotubes

The adsorption conditions used to immobilize catalase onto thin films of carbon nanotubes were investigated to elucidate the conditions that produced films with maximum amounts of active catalase. The adsorption kinetics were monitored by spectroscopic ellipsometry, and the immobilized catalase films were then assayed for catalytic activity. The development of a volumetric optical model used to interpret the ellipsometric data is discussed. According to the results herein discussed, not only the adsorbed amount but also the initial adsorption rates determine the final catalytic activity of the adsorbed layer. The results described in this paper have direct implications on the rational design and analytical performance of enzymatic biosensors.