A diagnostic device 10 for screening for a target analyte in a sample is provided. The diagnostic device 10 comprises a substrate 12 and a hydrophobic material 20 disposed on the substrate. The hydrophobic material 20 is selected to be converted from the hydrophobic material 20 to a hydrophilic material 22 upon contact with a conversion component within or derived from a sample introduced to the device 10.

Embodiments of this invention disclose new second generation uric acid-sensing electrodes at least characterized by chemically bonding both uricase and the redox mediator to an electrode. The produced electrodes can be long-term stably used without losing activity. The developed electrode has been successfully applied for the analysis of uric acid (UA) in healthy human urine specimens which exhibits very good analysis accuracy and precision without too much interference. Therefore, the developed electrodes have the potential for clinical applications.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing a solid-state photonic crystal IPN composite functionalized with an enzyme, a photonic crystal IPN composite prepared by the method, and a biosensor using the photonic crystal IPN composite. The method of the present invention includes (1) mixing a nonreactive chiral dopant with a reactive nematic mesogen, curing the mixture, and removing the chiral dopant while maintaining a helical structure, to form a solid-state helical photonic crystal structure, (2) infiltrating a PAA hydrogel into the internal space of the photonic crystal structure, followed by curing to form an IPN-structured composite, and (3) immobilizing an enzyme in the IPN-structured composite. The PAA hydrogel is infiltrated into the solid-state helical photonic crystal structure and the enzyme is immobilized such that a pH change caused by the enzymatic reaction induces shrinkage and expansion of the PAA hydrogel, leading to a color change.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing a solid-state photonic crystal IPN composite functionalized with an enzyme, a photonic crystal IPN composite prepared by the method, and a biosensor using the photonic crystal IPN composite. The method of the present invention includes (1) mixing a nonreactive chiral dopant with a reactive nematic mesogen, curing the mixture, and removing the chiral dopant while maintaining a helical structure, to form a solid-state helical photonic crystal structure, (2) infiltrating a PAA hydrogel into the internal space of the photonic crystal structure, followed by curing to form an IPN-structured composite, and (3) immobilizing an enzyme in the IPN-structured composite. The PAA hydrogel is infiltrated into the solid-state helical photonic crystal structure and the enzyme is immobilized such that a pH change caused by the enzymatic reaction induces shrinkage and expansion of the PAA hydrogel, leading to a color change.

Methods of conducting ureolysis-induced calcium carbonate precipitation with a heat-treated cell preparation, methods for preparing the heat-treated cell preparation, and related materials. The methods of conducting ureolysis-induced calcium carbonate precipitation include precipitating calcium carbonate at a location by introducing urea, calcium, and a heat-treated cell preparation comprising active urease enzyme to the location. The urease enzyme hydrolyzes the urea to ammonium carbonate, and the calcium reacts with the carbonate to form a calcium carbonate precipitate at the location. The methods of preparing the heat-treated cell preparation include heating a urease-producing cell preparation at a temperature and for a time sufficient to inactivate at least a portion of the cells in the urease-producing cell preparation while maintaining at least some urease activity of urease made by the cells in the urease-producing cell preparation

Methods of conducting ureolysis-induced calcium carbonate precipitation with a heat-treated cell preparation, methods for preparing the heat-treated cell preparation, and related materials. The methods of conducting ureolysis-induced calcium carbonate precipitation include precipitating calcium carbonate at a location by introducing urea, calcium, and a heat-treated cell preparation comprising active urease enzyme to the location. The urease enzyme hydrolyzes the urea to ammonium carbonate, and the calcium reacts with the carbonate to form a calcium carbonate precipitate at the location. The methods of preparing the heat-treated cell preparation include heating a urease-producing cell preparation at a temperature and for a time sufficient to inactivate at least a portion of the cells in the urease-producing cell preparation while maintaining at least some urease activity of urease made by the cells in the urease-producing cell preparation

Multi-use biosensors are disclosed that include enzymes that have been modified to reduce the solubility thereof; the multi-use biosensors are used to detect analytes in fluidic biological samples, and the biosensors also maintain their enzyme activity after many uses. Multi-sensor arrays are disclosed that include multiple biosensors. Also disclosed are methods of producing and using these devices.

Multi-use biosensors are disclosed that include enzymes that have been modified to reduce the solubility thereof; the multi-use biosensors are used to detect analytes in fluidic biological samples, and the biosensors also maintain their enzyme activity after many uses. Multi-sensor arrays are disclosed that include multiple biosensors. Also disclosed are methods of producing and using these devices.

Disclosed herein are compositions for permeable outer diffusion control membranes for creatinine and creatine sensors and methods of making such membranes.

Disclosed herein are compositions for permeable outer diffusion control membranes for creatinine and creatine sensors and methods of making such membranes.