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

Jean Clency Fabien Bibi (1) , Maud Villain (1) , Carole Guillaume (1) , Brice Sorli (2, 3) , Nathalie Gontard (1)

1 UMR IATE - Ingénierie des Agro-polymères et Technologies Émergentes
2 IES - Institut d’Electronique et des Systèmes
3 M2A - Matériaux, MicroCapteurs et Acoustique

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.

Mots clés: Dielectric permittivity and loss; Bio-sensor; Proteins; Dielectric and structure modification; Vapors and gases; Physico-chemical properties; dielectric properties

Mots clés: propriété physicochimique; film protéique; polymère synthétique; bio polymère; biosenseur; propriété diélectrique

Domaines: Ingénierie des aliments

Jean Clency Fabien Bibi, Maud Villain, Carole Guillaume, Brice Sorli, Nathalie Gontard. A Review: Origins of the Dielectric Properties of Proteins and Potential Development as Bio-Sensors. Sensors, 2016, 16 (8), ⟨10.3390/s16081232⟩. ⟨hal-01837454⟩