Novel conducting polymer electrolyte biosensor based on poly(1-vinyl imidazole) and poly(acrylic acid) networks.

Biosensor construction and characterization studies of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and poly(1-vinyl imidazole) (PVI) complex systems have been carried out. The biosensors were prepared by mixing PAA with PVI at several stoichiometric ratios, x (molar ratio of the monomer repeat units). The enzyme, invertase, was entrapped in the PAA/PVA interpenetrating polymer networks during complexation. Modifications were made on the PAA/PVI conducting polymer electrolyte matrixes to improve the stability and performance of the polymer electrolyte-based enzyme biosensor. The maximum reaction rate (V(max)) and Michaelis-Menten constant (K(m)) were investigated for the immobilized invertase. The temperature and pH optimization, operational stability, and shelf life of the polymer electrolyte biosensor were also examined.