ENZYMATIC SENSORS AND METHODS FOR THEIR PREPARATION AND USE

1 . A method of measuring molecular oxygen, the method comprising: contacting a first sample with at least one luciferase composition, wherein the luciferase composition comprises at least one lipid-functionalized graphene or lipid-functionalized fullerene and at least one luciferase, wherein the luciferase is entrapped within the lipid-functionalized graphene or the lipid-functionalized fullerene, wherein the entrapped luciferase is not linked to the lipid-functionalized graphene or the lipid-functionalized fullerene; and detecting luminescence.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the lipid-functionalized fullerene comprises at least one lipid-functionalized carbon nanotube.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the lipid-functionalized carbon nanotube comprises one or more of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT), double-walled carbon nanotubes, or multi-walled carbon nanotubes.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein relative intensity of the luminescence correlates to the amount of molecular oxygen in the sample.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising comparing the luminescence to at least one control.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising measuring molecular oxygen, wherein measuring molecular oxygen comprises calibrating the luminescence against an oxygraph reading, using a Clarke electrode, using REDFLASH-dyes, or using optical oxygen sensing based on ruthenium and porphyrin complexes.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the luciferase is a bacterial luciferase.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the bacterial luciferase comprises one or more luciferase from Vibrio fischeri, Photobacterium species, Vibrio harveyi, Photobacterium leiognathi, Vibrio logei, Photorhabdus sp., Alteromonas sp., or a combination thereof.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the luciferase is a non-bacterial luciferase.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the non-bacterial luciferase comprises one or more luciferase from Renilla luciferase, firefly luciferase, or a combination thereof.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the luciferase is a recombinant luciferase.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the luciferase composition further comprises at least one adsorbtion agent, scavenging agent, or a combination thereof.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the adsorption agent comprises one or more of melanin particles (Cope), semi-conductor particles, or a combination thereof.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the scavenging agent comprises one or more anti-oxidants, vitamin C, vitamin E, glutathione, or a combination thereof.

15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the luciferase composition further comprises an associated protein, wherein the associated protein is entrapped within the lipid-functionalized graphene or the lipid-functionalized fullerene, wherein the entrapped associated protein is not linked to the lipid-functionalized graphene or the lipid-functionalized fullerene.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the associated protein comprises NADPH dehydrogenase, lumazine proteins, NADPH-FMN oxidoreductase, yellow fluorescent protein, superoxide dismutase, peroxidases, and fatty acid reductase complex.

17 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

separating the luciferase composition from the first sample; and

contacting a second sample with the luciferase composition.

18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising separating the luciferase composition from the second sample and contacting the luciferase composition with a third sample.

19 . The method claim 1 , wherein the contacting occurs at a temperature between about 40° C. to about 60° C.

20 .- 77 . (canceled)

78 . A biosensor device for measuring oxygen comprising:

at least two measuring chambers comprising tops, wherein the measuring chamber contains a mixture of compounds, wherein the mixture of compounds comprises at least one lipid-functionalized graphene or lipid-functionalized fullerene and at least one luciferase, wherein the luciferase is entrapped within the lipid-functionalized graphene or the lipid-functionalized fullerene, wherein the entrapped luciferase is not linked to the lipid-functionalized graphene or the lipid-functionalized fullerene;

at least two removable vessels for receiving a sample, wherein the vessels have a removable top and a needle positioned on a bottom, wherein the vessel and the measuring chamber can be connected by inserting the needle into the top of the measuring chamber;

a housing;

a sample holder positioned within the housing, wherein the measuring chamber can be inserted into the sample holder;

a transparent lens positioned on the sample holder;

a photon detector positioned within the housing;

a signal processor, positioned within the housing, wherein the photon detector and signal processor are connected; and

a display unit connected to the signal processor.

79 . A hand-held biosensor device for measuring oxygen comprising:

a catheter;

an optic fiber, wherein a first end of the optic fiber is within the catheter;

a semi-permeable membrane chamber, wherein the semi-permeable membrane chamber is attached to first end of the optic fiber;

a mixture of compounds, wherein the mixture of compounds comprises:

at least one lipid-functionalized graphene or lipid-functionalized fullerene and at least one luciferase, wherein the luciferase is entrapped within the lipid-functionalized graphene or the lipid-functionalized fullerene, wherein the entrapped luciferase is not linked to the lipid-functionalized graphene or the lipid-functionalized fullerene and wherein the mixture is disposed within the semi-permeable membrane chamber;

a photon detector; wherein a second end of the optic fiber is connect to the photon detector; and

a processing unit, wherein the processing unit is connected to the photon detector.

80 . The device of claim 79 , wherein the semi-permeable membrane chamber is removable.

81 . The device of claim 79 , wherein the semi-permeable membrane chamber comprises an optode.