DNA detection and cell adhesion on plasma‐polymerized pyrrole

This study investigates the application of Plasma‐polymerized pyrrole (ppPY) as bioactive platform for DNA immobilization and cell adhesion based on the fundamental properties of ppPY, such as chemical structure, electrochemical property, and protein adsorption. Variations in electrochemical properties of the ppPY film deposited under different plasma conditions before and after DNA immobilization were measured using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The equilibrium concentration of the probe DNA immobilized on the ppPY surface was deduced by detecting the variations in the surface charge transfer resistance (R_ct) of the ppPY films after DNA immobilization with different concentrations. In addition, the detection limit of the target DNA hybridization with probe DNA, the association constant, K_a, and the dissociation constant were deduced from Langmuir isotherm equations simulated using the experimental data collected by EIS. Moreover, inverted microscope was used to observe the cell adhesions onto the surface of the ppPY films prepared under different plasma conditions. Different adhesive behaviors of cells were observed, demonstrating that ppPY films could be an alternative biomaterial used as the sensitive layer for DNA sensor or cell adhesion. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 101: 496–503, 2014.