Thirty years of haemoglobin electrochemistry.

Electrochemical investigations of the blood oxygen carrier protein include both mediated and direct electron transfer. The reaction of haemoglobin (Hb) with typical mediators, e.g., ferricyanide, can be quantified by measuring the produced ferrocyanide which is equivalent to the Hb concentration. Immobilization of the mediator within the electrode body allows reagentless electrochemical measuring of Hb. On the other hand, entrapment of the protein within layers of polyelectrolytes, lipids, nanoparticles of clay or gold leads to a fast heterogeneous electron exchange of the partially denatured Hb.