The glucose enzyme electrode: is simple peroxide detection at a needle sensor acceptable?

Needle type devices have been fabricated based on Pt anodes (to detect H2O2) mounted with stainless steel needles to act as the reference. Coating of these devices with glucose oxidase allowed glucose measurement, but with high dependence on stirring and background pO2 levels as well as a restricted glucose assay range. By wet dipcoating of microporous polyurethane or the application of preformed porous membranes, the linear range has been extended up to 70 mM glucose, to give minimal pO2 dependence and insensitivity to stirring. With incorporation of polyethersulphone membranes, blood measurement was possible with high selectivity (y = 0.954x + 0.202, r = 0.991, n = 48). This establishes that simple peroxide detection at a needle sensor is acceptable, and can now be focussed on increasing biocompatibility.