UV-cured natural polymer-based membrane for biosensor application

Chitosan, a natural product, is inherently biodegradable, biocompatible, an d nontoxic. These properties make chitosan ideal for inclusion in matrices designed for use in enzyme immobilization for clinical analysis. This study demonstrates the feasibility of using chitosan in electrochemical biosenso r fabrication. The enzyme sulfite oxidase (SOX) was covalently immobilized onto the matrix of chitosan-poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (chitosan-pHEMA ), a natural/synthetic polymer hybrid obtainable via UV curing, p-Benzoquin one, which served as an electron transfer mediator, was coupled onto the po lymer network for activation of the chitosan-pHEMA copolymer, after complet ion of the photo-induced polymerization reaction. The biological activity o f the immobilized SOX and the electroactivity of the coupled p-benzoquinone were investigated. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.