Performance of urea-sensitive enzyme field effect transistors: influence of the storage conditions

Urea-sensitive enzyme field effect transistors (ENFETs) were prepared by cross-linking urease with bovine serum albumin in saturated glutaraldehyde vapor on the sensitive surface of a pH-FET. The linear part of the biosensor dynamic range is between 5 x 10(-5) and 10(-3) M of urea. The influence of pH on the sensor response, stability and reproducibility of the urea sensor were examined. The addition of EDTA, glycerol, sodium azide and dithiothreitol in the storage buffer solution was studied. In these specific storage conditions, an increase of sensor sensitivity and stability was observed, which means that the enzyme is inhibited during the immobilisation procedure and can be partially restored. Furthermore such reagents do not affect the operational characteristics of the sensor when working in serum.