Investigation of the Relationship Between Conductivity and Protein-Binding Properties of Polypyrrole

Polypyrrole was synthesized using two different methods of chemical synthesis to obtain a product with different electrical conductivity values. The two products were found to possess about the same ability to bind protein. After prolonged exposure to aqueous solutions of different ionic composition and at different pH values, the polymer was tested for electrical conductivity and protein-binding ability. Electrical conductivity was found to vary with the conditions under which the polymer was stored, and of these, the pH of the medium was found to be the most important. On the other hand, the ability to bind protein did not show any such variation and only chemical reduction of the polymer produced a significant reduction in the level of protein binding.