Second generation biosensors

Abstract

Enzyme-membrane electrodes using glucose oxidase in combination with peroxide detection dominate in the field of laboratory analyzers for diluted samples. Using the same indication principle, extremely fast responding glucose sensors have been fabricated by covering thin metal electrodes with a porous enzyme layer. In the second generation auxiliary enzymes and/or co-reactants are coimmobilized with the analyte converting enzyme in order to improve the analytical quality and to simplify the performance. Following this line oxidizable interferences are suppressed by using a glucose oxidase/peroxidase complex which communicates with the electrode at a low working potential. Furthermore, fluctuations of pH or buffer capacity are ineffective when using a glucose oxidase/peroxidase layer covered fluoride FET in the potentiometric glucose determination. Enzymatic recycling of the analyte and/or accumulation of intermediates increase the sensitivity by several orders of magnitude. Inclusion of NAD bound to PEG in the glucose dehydrogenase layer allows a reagentless glucose measurement.