Electroanalytical approaches for understanding the influence of applied potential on sensor biofouling
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: Biofouling is a complex and dynamic process that remains a major limitation to continuous and longterm sensing in biological environments. Unlike passive biomaterials, electrochemical sensors operate under electrical control, yet the influence of applied potential on protein adsorption and the resulting electroanalytical response is insufficiently understood. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) with redox probes of different interfacial sensitivities was used to assess the influence of positive, open-circuit, and negative polarization during bovine serum albumin (BSA) incubation on the electrochemical behavior of gold and graphitic carbon electrodes. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) provided insights into interfacial blocking and charge transfer. Finally, electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (EQCM-D) was used to directly investigate protein adsorption under polarized conditions. In general, suppression of redox responses, increased charge-transfer resistance, and larger changes in estimated adsorbed mass were observed at positive incubation potentials, indicating the formation of more electrochemically blocking protein layers. On the contrary, negative incubation potentials produced smaller changes in electrochemical activity and lower charge-transfer resistance, consistent with more open and accessible interfaces. These findings support a proposed model where applied potential, together with additional protein-surface interactions, affects not only the amount of protein adsorbed but also the organization and electrochemical accessibility of the resulting interfacial layer. Complementary electroanalytical techniques provide a practical framework for assessing sensor biofouling under operational conditions.
Source: ChemRxiv
Institutions: University of Turku, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Language: English
Subfield: Surfaces, Coatings and Films
Field: Materials Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7208785854