A Review: Origins of the Dielectric Properties of Proteins and Potential Development as Bio-Sensors

• Published in: Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 16; no. 8; p. 1232
• Main Authors: Bibi, Fabien, Villain, Maud, Guillaume, Carole, Sorli, Brice, Gontard, Nathalie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 04.08.2016; MDPI
• Subjects: Ammonia; bio-sensor; Biosensing Techniques - methods; Biosensors; Carbon dioxide; Change detection; dielectric and structure modification; dielectric permittivity and loss; Dielectric properties; Dielectric Spectroscopy; Electric Conductivity; Electrical resistivity; Food engineering; Glass transition temperature; Humans; Life Sciences; Moisture content; Molecular chains; Natural polymers; Origins; physico-chemical properties; Polymers; Polymers - chemistry; Proteins; Proteins - chemistry; Review; Spectroscopy; Spectrum analysis; Structural analysis; vapors and gases; Water vapor; dielectric and structure modification; vapors and gases; physico-chemical properties; bio-sensor; proteins; dielectric permittivity and loss; polymère synthétique; film protéique; Bio-sensor; Dielectric permittivity and loss; dielectric properties; bio polymère; Dielectric and structure modification; propriété physicochimique; propriété diélectrique; Proteins; Physico-chemical properties; biosenseur; Vapors and gases
• ISSN: 1424-8220; 1424-8220
• DOI: 10.3390/s16081232

Polymers can be classified as synthetic polymers and natural polymers, and are often characterized by their most typical functions namely their high mechanical resistivity, electrical conductivity and dielectric properties. This bibliography report consists in: (i) Defining the origins of the dielectric properties of natural polymers by reviewing proteins. Despite their complex molecular chains, proteins present several points of interest, particularly, their charge content conferring their electrical and dielectric properties; (ii) Identifying factors influencing the dielectric properties of protein films. The effects of vapors and gases such as water vapor, oxygen, carbon dioxide, ammonia and ethanol on the dielectric properties are put forward; (iii) Finally, potential development of protein films as bio-sensors coated on electronic devices for detection of environmental changes particularly humidity or carbon dioxide content in relation with dielectric properties variations are discussed. As the study of the dielectric properties implies imposing an electric field to the material, it was necessary to evaluate the impact of frequency on the polymers and subsequently on their structure. Characterization techniques, on the one hand dielectric spectroscopy devoted for the determination of the glass transition temperature among others, and on the other hand other techniques such as infra-red spectroscopy for structure characterization as a function of moisture content for instance are also introduced.