Redox Reaction of Ferritin Immobilized onto SAMs- and Polypeptides-Modified Electrodes

Abstract

Electrode reactions of ferritin-immobilized electrodes based on both self-assembled monolayers (SAMs)-modified gold and polypeptides-modified ITO electrodes were investigated. It was observed that during the redox reactions, the total charge in the ferritin cavity would be necessary to compensate for changes in the charge of the ferritin cavity; in other words, to maintain electroneutrality in the cavity. Ion uptake and/or release passing through the ion channels of the ferritin molecule would be the rate-determining factor. Thus, the redox reactions of ferritin were also strongly influenced by the fine structural changes of the ion channel induced by the ambient temperature and the binding of the ferritin molecule with polypeptides via electrostatic interactions. The redox reactions of ferritin represent a typical model of nano-space electrochemistry.