Improvement in the Long-Term Stability of an Amperometric Glucose Sensor System by Introducing a Cellulose Membrane of Bacterial Origin

• Published in: Analytical chemistry (Washington) Vol. 67; no. 2; pp. 466 - 471
• Main Authors: Ammon, H. P. T, Ege, W, Oppermann, M, Goepel, W, Eisele, S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 15.01.1995
• Subjects: Acetobacter; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Biosensing Techniques; Biosensors; Biotechnology; Blood Glucose - analysis; Cellulose; Electrochemistry; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Glucose - analysis; Humans; Male; Membranes, Artificial; Methods. Procedures. Technologies; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Various methods and equipments; Human; Glucose oxidase; Stability; Enzyme; Cellulose; Glucose; Enzyme electrode; Optimization; Blood; Biosensor; Amperometry; Bacteria; Biocompatibility; Membrane; Oxidoreductases
• ISSN: 0003-2700; 1520-6882
• DOI: 10.1021/ac00098a036

Classical amperometric glucose sensors that use cellulose membranes of wood origin (Cuprophan) suffer from the fact that their long-term stability in blood is short; therefore, their clinical use is limited. In the present study, a classical amperometric glucose sensor was covered with a bacterial cellulose (BC) membrane. Its surface in comparison to that of the classical glucose sensor (Cuprophan) and its long-term stability were tested in vitro and in vivo. The surface element composition was approximately 44% oxygen and approximately 56% carbon in both membranes and thus typical for cellulose. BC membranes exhibited fiber structure, whereas cup membranes did not. There was also a qualitative difference in protein adsorption between both membranes on exposure to bovine serum albumin. Treatment with Trogamid of one site of the BC membranes allowed linear glucose detection between 0 and 40 mM. Hemocompatibility of BC membranes was improved in comparison to cup membranes on the basis of complement activation (C3a and C5a). In diluted blood (1:10), the BC-covered sensor exhibited a long-term stability of more than 200 h; in undiluted blood it was stable for about 24 h, which is about 6-7 times longer than the stability of the classical Cup membrane-covered sensor. In in vivo studies, where the BC membrane-covered sensors were connected to the jugular vein of rats, blood glucose levels could be monitored for at least 24 h. In summary, the use of a modified bacterial cellulose membrane to cover the classical amperometric glucose sensor significantly improves the sensor's long-term stability both in vitro and in vivo.