Galvanically functionalized sensors

Abstract

The present invention relates to a biosensor for determining an analyte comprising a substrate, a working electrode comprising an electrically conductive pad in conductive contact with a mediator layer, and an enzyme layer in diffusion-enabling contact with said mediator layer, wherein said mediator layer is an electrodeposited mediator layer, and wherein said mediator layer comprises, in an embodiment consists of, an electrocatalytic agent. The present invention further relates to a method for manufacturing a biosensor, comprising providing a substrate having at least one conductive pad, electrodepositing a mediator layer onto at least part of said conductive pad, wherein said mediator layer comprises, in an embodiment consists of, an electrocatalytic agent, and depositing an enzyme layer onto at least part of said mediator layer. Moreover, the present invention relates to uses and methods related to the biosensor of the present invention.

1 . A biosensor for determining analyte comprising a substrate,
 a working electrode comprising an electrically conductive pad in conductive contact with a mediator layer, and an enzyme layer in diffusion-enabling contact with said mediator layer,   wherein said mediator layer is an electrodeposited mediator layer, and wherein said mediator layer comprises an electrocatalytic agent,   wherein said electrocatalytic agent comprises MnO 2 .   
     
     
         2 . The biosensor of  claim 1 , wherein said electrocatalytic agent is an agent catalyzing at least one electrochemical reaction by decreasing the overpotential required for said electrochemical reaction to occur and/or by increasing the rate at which said electrochemical reaction occurs. 
     
     
         3 . The biosensor of  claim 1 , wherein said mediator layer consists of manganese and/or of MnO 2 . 
     
     
         4 . The biosensor of  claim 1 , wherein said working electrode comprises a multiplicity of electrically conductive pads, of which at least one is in conductive contact with a mediator layer being in diffusion-enabling contact with an enzyme layer. 
     
     
         5 . The biosensor of  claim 1 , wherein said biosensor further comprises a counter electrode. 
     
     
         6 . The biosensor of  claim 5 , wherein said reference electrode comprises a layer of reference material. 
     
     
         7 . The biosensor of  claim 5 , wherein said reference material comprises silver. 
     
     
         8 . The biosensor of  claim 1 , wherein said enzyme layer comprises an enzyme producing a peroxide in the presence of an analyte. 
     
     
         9 . The biosensor of  claim 1 , wherein said analyte is glucose. 
     
     
         10 . A method for manufacturing a biosensor, comprising
 a) providing a substrate having at least one conductive pad,   b) electrodepositing a mediator layer onto at least part of said conductive pad, wherein said mediator layer comprises an electrocatalytic agent, wherein said electrocatalytic agent comprises MnO 2 , and   c) depositing an enzyme layer onto at least part of said mediator layer.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said method comprises providing a substrate further comprising at least one of a reference electrode and a counter electrode. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said method further comprises electrodepositing a layer of reference material onto said reference electrode. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein depositing said enzyme layer comprises depositing an enzyme producing a peroxide in the presence of an analyte. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A method for detecting an analyte in a sample, comprising
 a) contacting said sample to an enzyme layer of a biosensor, said biosensor comprising a substrate, a working electrode comprising an electrically conductive pad in conductive contact with an electrodeposited mediator layer comprising an electrocatalytic agent, wherein said electrocatalytic agent comprises MnO 2 , an enzyme layer in diffusion-enabling contact with said mediator layer, and at least one counter electrode,   b) closing an electrical circuit comprising said working electrode, said mediator layer, and said counter electrode,   c) applying a voltage to the electrical circuit of step b), measuring the resulting current, and, thereby,   d) detecting said analyte in said sample.   
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The biosensor of  claim 1 , wherein said biosensor is an implantable biosensor. 
     
     
         18 . The biosensor of  claim 1 , wherein said mediator layer consists of MnO 2 .