Biosensor based on enzyme-catalysed degradation of thin polymer films

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Analytical Chemistry
• Materials Science

Background:

• Enzyme-catalyzed degradation of polymers offers a novel approach for biosensing applications.
• Biodegradable polymers can be designed for specific enzyme interactions.
• Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) is a sensitive technique for monitoring surface changes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize a biosensor based on enzyme-catalyzed dissolution of biodegradable polymer films.
• To investigate the performance of different polymer-enzyme systems for enzyme detection.
• To evaluate the sensitivity and potential applications of the developed biosensor.

Main Methods:

• Investigated three polymer-enzyme systems: poly(ester amide)/alpha-chymotrypsin, dextran hydrogel/dextranase, and poly(trimethylene) succinate/lipase.
• Monitored polymer film dissolution using Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR).
• Correlated degradation rates with varying enzyme concentrations.

Main Results:

• Degradation rate was directly proportional to enzyme concentration for all systems.
• The poly(ester amide)/alpha-chymotrypsin system exhibited the highest sensitivity, detecting enzyme concentrations from 4 x 10(-11) to 4 x 10(-7) mol l(-1).
• The dextran hydrogel/dextranase system detected low enzyme concentrations (2 x 10(-11) mol l(-1)) within 20 minutes.

Conclusions:

• Biosensors based on enzyme-catalyzed polymer degradation are feasible and sensitive.
• The poly(ester amide)/alpha-chymotrypsin system is a promising candidate for enzyme detection.
• The developed sensor technology has potential applications in enzyme quantification and disposable immunosensors.