Small angle neutron scattering study of the structural modifications induced by the entrapped glucose oxidase in polyacrylamide microgels

We have investigated, using small angle neutron scattering (SANS), polyacrylamide microgels with 0.25% and 1.5% (w/w) cross-linking percentages. The SANS patterns consist of solution-like concentration fluctuations given by two Lorentz functions and a contribution at low q of the type I(q)∼q−β (q being the scattering vector). Glucose Oxidase was entrapped into microgels with 1.5% cross-linking with the aim to prepare a glucose biosensor. The structural changes induced in the polymer network by the entrapped enzyme are reported.