Biosensor incorporating a surfactant

摘要

A biosensor for the determination of a selected analyte in a sample comprises an enzyme layer incorporating an enzyme which is capable of interacting with said analyte to provide a detectable change, detecting means on one side of said layer for detecting said change, and an outer diffusion limiting barrier membrane which is provided on the opposite side of said layer to the detecting means. The membrane incorporates a surfactant so as to render it permeable to said analyte and the enzyme layer incorporates at least one substance essential to enzyme activity (e.g. a co-factor). The nature and amount of the surfactant are such that the membrane inhibits release of the substance essential to enzyme activity into the sample whilst retaining permeability to the analyte.