An analyte sensor and a method for making the analyte sensor are disclosed. The analyte sensor includes a crosslinked, hydrophilic copolymer having a methacrylate-derived backbone and a side chain having a negatively charged group. The copolymer can include an embedded analyte sensing component, and can be adjacent to a surface of an electrode, or be adjacent to a sensing membrane that that has an embedded analyte sensing component and is adjacent to a surface of an electrode. The sensing membrane can have a crosslinked network of crosslinked proteins.