A distal tip, and associated method of producing, of a biosensor ion
sensing transducer for use in detecting an analyte comprising an
halogenated organic compound in an environment such as soil or an aqueous
environment. Features include: a biocomponent comprising at least one
enzyme for carrying out a dehalogenation of the compound; the
biocomponent is immobilized to a surface of the tip; a treatment of the
biocomponent for maintaining a period of enzymatic efficacy; and the
biocomponent stabilized by means preferably selected from the group
consisting of crosslinking a surface of the immobilized biocomponent,
crosslinking a polymer layer to the biocomponent, adding a gel-hardening
agent to the biocomponent, adding a stabilizing agent to the
biocomponent, and modifying a component of the immobilizing means.
Immobilization can be carried out by: (a) entrapment within a hydrogel;
(b) entrapment within a polymeric network; (c) (micro)encapsulation; (d)
covalent-bonding; and (e) adsorption. The dehalogenase of the
biocomponent may be selected from the group consisting of hydrolases,
subclass EC 3.8, and lyases, subclass EC 4.5 as listed in Table 2A.