Characterization of protein-immobilized polystyrene nanoparticles using impedance spectroscopy

A novel approach for characterization of non-conductive protein-immobilized nanoparticles using AC impedance spectroscopy combined with conductive atomic force microscopy was examined. As AC impedance spectroscopy can provide information on diverse electrical properties such as capacitance and inductance, it is applicable to the characterization of non-conductive substances. Several non-conductive protein-immobilized polystyrene nanoparticles were analyzed using AC impedance spectroscopy, and their impedance spectra were used as markers for nanoparticle identification. Analyses of impedance signals using an electrical circuit model established that the capacitance and inductance of each nanoparticle changed with the adsorbed protein and that impedance spectral differences were characteristic properties of the proteins. From this study, AC impedance spectroscopy was shown to be a useful tool for characterization of non-conductive nanoparticles and is expected to be applicable to the development of sensors for nanomaterials.