Piezoelectric urea biosensor based on immobilization of urease onto nanoporous alumina membranes.

The urease was immobilized onto nanoporous alumina membranes prepared by the two-step anodization method, and a novel piezoelectric urea sensing system with separated porous alumina/urease electrode has been developed through measuring the conductivity change of immobilized urease/urea reaction. The process of urease immobilization was optimized and the performance of the developed urea biosensor was evaluated. The obtained urea biosensor presented high-selectivity monitoring of urea, better reproducibility (S.D.=0.02, n=6), shorter response time (30s), wider linear range (0.5 microM to 3mM), lower detection limit (0.2 microM) and good long-term storage stability (with about 76% of the enzymatic activity retained after 30 days). The clinical analysis of the urea biosensor confirmed the feasibility of urea detection in urine samples.