A critical evaluation of the mechanism of potential response of antigen polymer membranes to the corresponding antiserum

Abstract

A critical evaluation of the potentiometric response of polymer-based electrodes to proteins is described. Despite the rather poor reproducibility of some of these measurements, it was established that the interface at a PVC membrane containing cardiolipin, lecithin and cholesterol with electrolyte solutions is non-polarized. It is suggested that the observed changes of potential are due to the changes of exchange current densities of individual ions which participate in the ion-exchange process and establish a mixed potential at that interface. Although some degree of immunochemical coupling is present, these sensors would be difficult to utilize as immunoelectrodes.