Electrochemical Behavior of Cytochrome C Immobilized in a Magnetically Induced Mesoporous Framework

Protein immobilization on electrode surfaces remains a technological challenge and is decisive in enhancing biological properties with simplified operational steps. In view of proposing a new direction for protein immobilization, we report the development of a mesoporous framework resulting from the magnetically induced assembly of magnetite nanoparticles decorated with near-monodisperse gold nanoparticles onto an indium-tin-oxide electrode. With an electrochemically active surface area of about 72 cm(2) and pores with an average size of 31 +/- 1 nm, this magnetically induced mesoporous framework is suitable for the immobilization of small redox proteins. As a proof-of-concept, we show the electrochemical process of cytochrome c, where the mesoporous electrode provided a fourfold enhancement for the faradaic currents in comparison to standard polycrystalline gold electrodes.