abstract |
An electrical biosensor for analyte determination is prepared by polymerization of a mixture of a biological receptor capable of binding an analyte in a sample, a protein and a polymerizing agent such as glutaraldehyde to form a polymeric film on a transducer. The mixture preferably contains a stabilizer selected from lipids, detergents and antioxidents. The receptor may be an acetylcholine receptor and the analyte, acetylcholine. A preferred stabilizer is a combination of phosphatidyl choline and octyphenoxypolyethoxyethanol. In carrying out a determination, analyte in a sample binds to the receptor causing a change in an electrical characteristic of the film which is indicative of the presence of the analyte. The biosensor may contain a second polymeric film that is free of the receptor and which serves as a control. |