Composites of Poly (3,4-Ethylenedioxythiophene) with Nanostructures as Electrochemical Sensors for Application in Bioelectroanalysis

Background: The article presents the state of research on conductive composite materials constructed on the basis of poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), a conductive polymer, as well as selected nanoparticles and nanostructures. Combining two or more materials in a composite which is later used in electrode modification can result in obtaining an electrode with new, more desirable properties. One of such fields is pharmacological analysis which, due to the continuous emergence of new substances and often also a need for analyte determination in complex samples, requires newer instruments in the form of suitably sensitive and selective sensors. Contents: The review contains the description of properties of PEDOT and composite PEDOT with polystyrenesulfonates. In the following part, composite materials are described: PEDOT-CNT, PEDOT- nanoparticles, PEDOT-graphene. The review closes with the examples of multi-component composite materials. Conclusion: The on-going development of new substances used in medicine, pharmacy and related fields, as well as the continuous increase in the production and consumption of this type of substances, necessitates constant development and modernization of analytical techniques used for their determination. Biomedical assays require being able to carry out determinations in different systems, including in vitro ones, without separating individual compounds. It is necessary to be able to identify several substances simultaneously or determine one compound in the presence of chemically similar substances. Modern electrode materials such as PEDOT and nanostructured materials allow for the development of sensors which are getting increasingly better at meeting the requirements of the analysts.