Brush networks are intriguing materials that are able to replicate the stress–strain behavior of soft tissue, but the effect of the backbone chemical composition on the network mechanics is largely unknown. Here, we show that brush elastomers made by ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of norbornene-terminated poly­(dimethylsiloxane) macromonomers are less extensible than brush elastomers with the methacrylate backbone yet not as extensible (λmax) as predicted by the strain-stiffening parameter (β) derived from fitting the experimental stress–strain curves. The softness (E 0) and firmness (β) of the norbornene-based networks decrease with decreasing cross-link density as expected, but the λmax significantly drops when the grafting density becomes low enough, which has not been previously observed in this class of materials.

A bilayered glucose biosensor consisting of tris[5-amino-1, 10-phenanthroline]iron(II) polymer film redox mediator and a glucose oxidase layer was prepared on glassy carbon surfaces. The polymer film of the iron complex was immobilized onto the electrode using cyclic voltammetry via electropolymerization reactions, while the enzyme layer was formed using a BSA and glutaraldehyde crosslinking reaction. The biosensors gave the largest response in the pH range of 7-8 and were evaluated with respect to storage conditions of room temperature and 4 o C. There was no significant difference between the detection of glucose using the biosensor stored at room temperature versus one stored at 4°C and both bilayered films remained active for 20 days. The detection limit of the biosensors was found to be 0.30 mM which corresponds to a signal to noise ratio of 3:1.