Nano-bio Hybrid Material Based on Bacteriorhodopsin and ZnO for Bioelectronics Applications

Bioelectronics has attracted increasing interest in recent years because of their applications in various disciplines, such as biomedical. Development of efficient bio-nano hybrid materials is a new move towards revolution of nano-bioelectronics. A novel nano-bio hybrid electrode based on ZnO–protein for bioelectronics applications was prepared and characterized. The electrode was made by covalent attachment of bacterorhodopsin (bR) on to the ZnO substrate. The protein was attached to the ZnO nanoporous film coated on FTO glass with and without linker. In the immobilization method by adsorption without linker, protein was bonded to ZnO via electrostatic interactions and in the immobilization method protein was attached covalently. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were employed to investigate the surface features of the ZnO thin film and attached protein. ATR-FTIR was used to confirm the protein attachment.