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Enzyme-Doped Thin Films and Optical Fiber Sensors for Glutamate

Biomolecules encapsulated in porous silicate glass using the sol-gel process form optically transparent materials capable of biorecognition. We are working to design biosensors from these materials for the detection of glutamate, the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. Previously we demonstrated the ability of glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH)-doped sol-gel bulk materials to measure glutamate at varying concentrations. Here we show that GDH can be encapsulated in a thin film while retaining its enzymatic activity. The films are likely to be reaction limited rather than diffusion limited, as the reaction rate at saturating glutamate concentrations varies linearly with enzyme loading. At a given enzyme loading, the film reaction rate increases with increasing glutamate concentration, demonstrating its potential as a glutamate sensor material. In addition we have shown that the enzyme-doped sol-gel glass can be deposited onto the tip of an optical fiber. The fiber is active and responds to the presence of glutamate.