Insulator semiconductor structures coated with biodegradable latexes as encapsulation matrix for urease

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Urea detection is crucial for clinical diagnostics.
• Developing stable and sensitive biosensors remains a challenge.
• Immobilization of enzymes in polymer matrices can improve biosensor performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a new urea biosensor for clinical applications.
• To evaluate the performance of urease immobilized in functionalized latex polymers.
• To optimize the biosensor for sensitive and rapid urea detection.

Main Methods:

• Immobilization of urease in hydroxy-, acetate-, and lactobionate-functionalized latex polymers.
• Fabrication of pH-ion-selective field effect insulator-semiconductor (IS) based biosensors.
• Evaluation of biosensor responses using capacitance measurements and UV-visible spectroscopy.
• Determination of matrix permeability using rotating disk electrode experiments.
• Kinetic parameter analysis using Lineweaver-Burk plots.

Main Results:

• Urease activity was well-retained in cationic polymer matrices.
• The enzyme insulator semiconductor (ENIS) sensors demonstrated a linear response to urea concentrations from 10(-1.5) to 10(-4) M under optimal conditions (5 mM phosphate buffer).
• Urease-acetate polymer composite films showed fast response and good adhesion without glutaraldehyde cross-linking.

Conclusions:

• The developed urea biosensor exhibits promising performance for clinical applications.
• Latex polymer functionalization and immobilization strategies are effective for enhancing urease stability and biosensor sensitivity.
• The urease-acetate polymer composite offers a robust and efficient platform for urea sensing.