Evaluation of two sterically directed attachments of biomolecules on a coaxial nanofibre membrane to improve the development of optical biosensors

In this study, we have optimised the sterically directed attachment of biomolecules on the surface of coaxial membranes prepared by co-electrospinning which have been proved to be a material with very high performance for the development of biosensors with optical oxygen transduction. Uricase has been used as model enzyme. Two sterically directed strategies: a) covalent attachment via maleimide, and b) affinity bonding via biotin-streptavidin interaction, have been tested in order to preserve the enzymatic activity of uricase and to improve the analytical figures of merits on the determination of uric acid. The best results were obtained with biotin-streptavidin affinity interaction and using a biotinylation reagent containing a polyethylene glycol chain. The developed biosensor showed high sensitivity towards uric acid with a detection limit of 0.5 mu M, a quantification limit of 1.8 mu M and linear range from 1.8 to 250 mu M. The applicability of the membrane as biosensor with optical oxygen transduction was proved by determining uric acid in serum samples. The obtained results showed a good correlation (0.999) with those obtained by an external reference laboratory.