Potentiometric urea biosensor based on poly(glycidylmethacrylate)-grafted iron oxide nanoparticles

Urease enzyme was covalently attached on the poly(glycidylmethacrylate) (PGMA)-grafted iron oxide nanoparticles on Au electrode for the fabrication of urea biosensor. The telomere of poly(glycidylmethacrylate) (PGMA) with a trimethoxysilyl terminal group was synthesized by telomerization of glycidylmethacrylate. Iron oxide nanoparticles were coated with telomere of poly(glycidylmethacrylate) in order to obtain good enzyme immobilization platform. The telomere and nanoparticles were characterized by using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). The biosensor’s potentiometric response was measured as a function of urea concentration in phosphate buffer solution (10 mM, pH 7.5) and showed a linear range of 0.25–5.0 mM urea. The produced biosensor exhibited a good response time of ∼8 s and was stable for about two months. The basic features (optimum pH, optimum temperature, interference and storage stability) of the enzyme electrode were determined.