In this work, a novel photopatternable hydrogel-based material for the fluorescent detection of hydrogen peroxide was
developed and studied as a possible sensing element in optical biosensors. This composite hydrogel material was
developed to maximize analyte transport, be amenable to existing microfabrication techniques, and dovetail with various
enzyme immobilization strategies. Nanoparticles loaded with a hydrogen peroxide sensitive europium tetracycline
complex (EuTc) were mixed with monomer and crosslinker to form a photopolymerizable precursor. Sensitivity to
glucose can be introduced through addition of methacrylated glucose oxidase into the precursor solution, allowing for
covalent immobilization of the enzyme. As a result, the material can be integrated directly into optical biosensors for
continuous glucose monitoring.
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