Enzyme Electrode with Crosslinked Mediator for Detachment Prevention

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional enzyme electrodes face complications in preventing mediator detachment, requiring complex polymer designs.

Innovation Solution

The use of a mediator crosslinked by a crosslinking agent to prevent detachment from the reaction layer, allowing the mediator to effectively enter the enzyme's active center.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional redox polymer with a linker between the hydrophobic polymer and mediator is used, then the mediator can easily enter the active center of the enzyme, but the design becomes complicated and mediator detachment cannot be effectively prevented

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemediator detachment preventionVSAvoidpolymer design complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the linker component from the polymer structure and replaces it with a crosslinking agent. The mediator is directly bonded to the hydrophobic polymer main chain without an intervening linker, eliminating design complexity while maintaining mediator access to the enzyme active center through crosslinking stabilization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite structure combining a hydrophobic polymer main chain with a mediator that is crosslinked via a crosslinking agent. This composite approach provides both the hydrophobic interaction for mediator anchoring and the crosslinking for detachment prevention, achieving reliability without complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If the mediator itself is polymerized to prevent detachment, then the polymeric body of the mediator hardly enters the active center of the enzyme, but if the mediator is used alone, detachment occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemediator detachment preventionVSAvoidmediator access to enzyme active center
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the mediator system into two distinct components: a hydrophobic polymer main chain that provides anchoring and a mediator molecule that remains small and mobile. The mediator is bonded to the polymer backbone but maintains molecular-level mobility to access the enzyme active center, preventing detachment without forming large polymeric mediator structures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The hydrophobic polymer main chain acts as an intermediary that anchors the mediator to the electrode while allowing the mediator to extend toward the enzyme active center. The crosslinking agent further stabilizes this arrangement, creating a three-point attachment system that prevents detachment while maintaining mediator accessibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 approach enables a simpler design that effectively prevents mediator detachment, ensuring a sufficient electrical signal is obtained.

Implementation Method 1

a mediator crosslinked by a crosslinking agent

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCrosslinking: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 2

The mediator is a compound having a redox activity to mediate electron transfer between an enzyme and an electrode

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectron transfer: Redox Reactions

Data Source

PatentEP4641189A1Enzyme electrode, method for manufacturing same, and enzyme sensor
Publication Date: 2025.10.29 KIKKOMAN CORP
  • EP4641189A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4641189A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4641189A1 patent drawing

AI summary

Disclosed is a method for manufacturing an enzyme electrode. This method for manufacturing an enzyme electrode includes preparing a multilayer body including an electrode and a mediator layer provided on a surface of the electrode and containing a mediator crosslinked by a crosslinking agent, and forming a reaction layer by adding a solution containing an enzyme to the mediator layer of the multilayer body.