An amperometric urea biosensor based on covalent immobilization of urease on copolymer of glycidyl methacrylate and vinylferrocene

A unique urea biosensor construction based on the direct covalent attachment of urease onto a polymeric electron transfer mediator, poly(glycidyl methacrylate-co-vinylferrocene)-coated electrode is described. Amperometric response was measured as a function of urea concentration, at a fixed potential of +0.35 V vs. Ag/AgCl in phosphate-buffered saline (pH 7.0). Covalent immobilization of the urease directly to the functionalized ferrocene copolymer surface produced biosensors with a short response time (about 3 s) and provided low detection limits. The stability, reusability, pH, and temperature response of the biosensor, besides its kinetic parameter, were also studied.