SAM-modified electrodes for understanding and harnessing the properties of redox proteins

This short review describes recent work on the use of SAM-coated electrodes for studying redox proteins and enzymes. These platforms, in conjunction with electrochemical and in situ spectroelectrochemical techniques, provide a wealth of information on the structure, dynamics and reactivity of the immobilized proteins. New experimental evidence and theoretical developments, which suppose a major breakthrough in the fundamental understanding of interfacial electron transfer reactions of proteins immobilized on SAM-coated electrodes, are presented. Selected examples of mechanistic insights into redox and redox-coupled processes of the immobilized proteins, as well as the development of alternative SAM coatings for improved protein adsorption, stability and current densities are also discussed.