Biosensor Bilayered Enzyme Layer for Rapid Neutral Fat Measurement

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current biosensors for measuring neutral fat concentration are not sufficiently rapid or precise, as they require expensive enzymes and lengthy measurement times due to suboptimal enzyme layer configurations.

Innovation Solution

A biosensor with a bilayered structure where a lipid-decomposing enzyme layer is directly applied onto a redox-enzyme-containing layer, enhancing enzyme reaction rates without the need for carriers like filter paper or nonwoven cloths, allowing for quicker penetration and reaction completion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single enzyme layer is used to decompose neutral fat, then the measurement can be performed with simpler structure, but the measurement time becomes excessively long and precision is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenzyme layer structureVSAvoidmeasurement time
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The enzyme layer is segmented into two distinct layers: a first enzyme layer containing lipoprotein lipase for neutral fat decomposition, and a second enzyme layer containing glycerol dehydrogenase for glycerol oxidation. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function efficiently, reducing overall measurement time while maintaining structural organization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from a single-layer enzyme structure to a two-layer enzyme structure, adding a dimensional aspect to the enzyme layer configuration. This layered approach enables sequential enzyme reactions to occur in different spatial zones, improving reaction efficiency and reducing measurement time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Measurement precision

If three expensive enzymes (LPL, GK, GPO) are used for neutral fat measurement, then measurement precision can be maintained, but enzyme cost becomes excessively high

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveneutral fat measurement precisionVSAvoidenzyme cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and removes glycerol kinase (GK) from the enzyme system, replacing the traditional three-enzyme system (LPL-GK-GPO) with a simplified two-enzyme system (LPL-GLDH). This extraction eliminates the need for expensive GK while maintaining measurement precision through the use of glycerol dehydrogenase with PQQ prosthetic group.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention employs glycerol dehydrogenase with PQQ prosthetic group, which is more cost-effective than the traditional GK-GPO combination. This enzyme replacement reduces enzyme cost while maintaining the ability to accurately measure neutral fat concentration through glycerol detection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Reliability

If carrier materials like filter paper or nonwoven cloths are used to support enzyme layers, then enzyme immobilization is improved, but measurement time increases due to slower substrate penetration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenzyme immobilization stabilityVSAvoidsubstrate penetration speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The invention employs porous polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane as the carrier material. The porous structure of the PTFE membrane allows rapid substrate penetration while providing sufficient surface area for effective enzyme immobilization, thus maintaining both measurement speed and enzyme stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the physical and chemical parameters of the carrier material by selecting PTFE with specific porosity and hydrophobic properties. This parameter optimization enables fast substrate diffusion through the membrane while maintaining strong enzyme attachment, resolving the contradiction between penetration speed and immobilization stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This configuration enables rapid and precise measurement of neutral fat concentration by improving enzyme reaction rates, reducing measurement time to approximately 45 seconds while maintaining high precision.

Implementation Method 1

the redox enzyme and the electron receptor are dissolved in the sample solution so that an enzyme reaction advances between the substrate and the enzyme. By this enzyme reaction, the substrate is oxidized and simultaneously the electron receptor is reduced.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRedox reaction: Redox Reactions

Implementation Method 2

After the enzyme reaction ends, the reduced electron receptor is electrochemically oxidized. From the oxidation current value obtained at this time, the concentration of the substrate in the sample solution can be calculated.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrochemical oxidation:

Implementation Method 3

the neutral fat contained in sample solution is first decomposed into, for example, free fatty acid and glycerol with lipoprotein lipase (LPL)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEnzymatic decomposition: Enzyme

Data Source

PatentEP2554982B1biosensor
Publication Date: 2015.01.14 CCI CORPORATION
  • EP2554982B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2554982B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2554982B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

To provide a biosensor capable of measuring the concentration of specific component, such as glucose or neutral fat, in sample in a short time. The biosensor is A biosensor, comprising an insulating base plate, an electrode system containing at least a working electrode and a counter electrode and formed on the insulating base plate, and a sample-supplying section formed on the electrode system, wherein the sample-supplying section has a reaction layer comprising: a first reaction layer formed on the electrode system and containing at least a redox enzyme into which pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ), flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD), or flavin mononucleotide (FMN) is incorporated as a prosthetic group; and a second reaction layer formed by applying, onto the first reaction layer, a solution including a lipid decomposing enzyme.