Patent ID: 6316273
Filing Date: 2001-11-13
Classification: C12Q,G01N

Abstract:
A biosensor for use in detecting analytes, the biosensor comprising a membrane and an electrode and a reservoir defined there between, the membrane having an inner layer proximate the electrode and an outer layer remote from the electrode comprising a closely packed array of amphiphilic molecules, a plurality of ionophores, and a plurality of membrane spanning lipids, the ionophores comprising first and second half membrane spanning monomers, the first half membrane spanning monomers being provided in the inner layer and being prevented from lateral diffusion within the membrane and the second half membrane spanning monomers being provided in the outer layer and being free to diffuse laterally within the membrane, the second half membrane spanning monomers having attached thereto a first receptor which is reactive with the analyte, wherein a carrier to which is attached a plurality of the analyte is reversibly bound to the first receptor via the analyte, said analyte having a molecule weight less than 5,000 Daltons.