Application of electrospun membranes of polylactic acid and polypyrrole as a biosensor for the detection of cholesterol.

This article focuses on the development and characterization of electrospun poly(lactic acid) (PLA) membranes coated with polypyrrole (PPy) for sensitive, rapid, and cost-effective detection of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), a key analyte produced in enzymatic cholesterol oxidation. The PLA/PPy composite membranes exhibit semiconducting electrical conductivity (~10⁻² S cm⁻¹) that decreases proportionally with increasing concentrations of H₂O₂ and cholesterol oxidase (ChOx)-catalyzed cholesterol solutions, attributed to oxidative degradation of PPy. Characterization techniques including scanning electron microscopy, contact angle measurements, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed successful PPy coating, changes in surface hydrophilicity, and chemical interactions during exposure to analytes. The biosensor demonstrated high sensitivity with a limit of detection of 0.076 mg/dL for H₂O₂ and showed potential for practical cholesterol monitoring in clinical and industrial settings due to its simplicity, portability, and cost-effectiveness.