Enzyme biosensor for urea based on a novel pH bulk optode membrane.

A new, absorbance-based enzymatic biosensor membrane for determination of urea is described. A lipophilic, fully LED- and diode laser-compatible pH sensitive dye was incorporated into a plasticized, carboxylated poly(vinyl chloride) membrane and served as the optical transducer of the sensor. Urease was covalently linked to the surface of the pH bulk optode membrane to form a very thin cover. The resulting biosensor membrane allows rapid determination of urea over the 0.3 to 100 mM range. The reproducibility, stability, and effects of pH and buffer concentration on the response of sensor are reported. The preparation of the pH transducer and the immobilization of the enzyme are simple and may easily be adopted to other biosensor types.