Coating sensor for chemical or medical analysis - has selectively permeable polymer membrane of adjustable thickness, solubility and diffusion properties or pore properties, giving specified cut=off mol.wt.

摘要

In coating sensors with selectively permeable polymer membranes, a firmly bonded layer of at least one organic polymer is applied to a solid sensor surface, and predetermined cut-off properties are achieved by adjusting the thickness of the polymer layer and/or the solubility/diffusion properties and/or the pore properties. Pref. the polymer is applied in soln. Substances with solubility properties different from those of the polymer may be added to the polymer, and be (partly) dissolved out with a solvent after application of the firmly bonded layer. Structures may be formed in the layer which allow access of previously non-permeating small molecules to the sensor surface and which retain only slightly larger molecules. The additives are water-soluble substances, e.g. proteins, salts or polyethylene glycols of differing chain length. USE/ADVANTAGE - The cut-off level of the polymer layers can be below a mol. wt. of 500, and the cut-off level can be adjusted. Polymer-coated sensors and esp. semiconductor sensors, are used in determn. of chemicals, esp. in chemical and medical analysis, in biotechnology, in environmental protection and in sanitation.