Nanoreactors for the enzymatic synthesis of conducting polyaniline

The mechanistic role of template in the enzymatic synthesis of conducting polyaniline has been investigated using micelles and DNA as ionic templates. These studies show the existence and importance of a molecular local environment where the pH and charge density near the template molecule is different form that of the bulk solution. This local environment serves as a type of "nanoreactor" that ultimately controls the type of polyaniline that is produced enzymatically. When DNA is used as the template, an electro-responsive polyaniline/DNA complex is formed where the conformation of the DNA may be controlled through the electronic state of the polyaniline.