The preparation of several new nylon tube-glucose oxidase derivatives and their incorporation into the "reagentless" automated analysis of glucose.

Nylon tube was activated by alkylation with dimethyl sulfate and used for the immobilization of glucose oxidase. Lysine, hexamethylene diamine and polyethylene imine were also attached to activated nylon tube, and these nylon tube-spacer derivatives were reactivated with either glutaraldehyde or ethyl adipimidate for the subsequent coupling of glucose oxidase. The activities of all of the different nylon tube-glucose oxidase derivatives were compared by their incorporation into standard Technicon automated analysis systems. Activities were measured either spectrophotometrically, by following the production of hydrogen peroxide using an acid/KI assay, or polarographically by following the decrease in the oxygen concentration using a flow-through oxygen electrode assembly. The activity and stability of all of the nylon tube-glucose oxidase derivatives was such that their use in the routine estimation of glucose levels was an attractive proposition.