A disposable biosensor for urea determination in blood based on an ammonium-sensitive transducer

A potentiometric urea-sensitive biosensor using a NH4+-sensitive disposable electrode in double matrix membrane (DMM) technology as transducer is desc ribed. The ion-sensitive polymer matrix membrane was formed in the presence of an additional electrochemical inert filter paper matrix to improve the reproducibility in sensor production. The electrodes were prepared from one -side silver-coating filter paper, which is encapsulated for insulation by a heat-sealing film. Adefined volume of the NH4+-sensitive polymer matrix m embrane cocktail was deposited on this filter paper. To obtain the urea-bio sensor a layer of urease was cast onto the ion-sensitive membrane. Poly (ca rbamoylsulfonate) hydrogel, produced from a hydrophilic polyurethane prepol ymer blocked with bisulfite, served as immobilisation material. The disposa ble urea-sensitive electrode was combined with a disposable Ag/AgCl referen ce electrode to obtain the disposable urea biosensor. The sensor responded rapidly and in a stable manner to changes in urea concentrations between 7. 2 x 10(-5) and 2.1 x 10(-2) mol/l. The detection limit was 2 x 10-5 mol/l u rea and the slope in the linear range 52 mV/decade. By taking into consider ation the influence of the interfering K+- and Na+- ions the sensor can be used for the determination of urea in human blood and serum samples (dilute d or undiluted). A good correlation was found with the data obtained by the spectrophotometric routine method. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All righ ts reserved.