Potentiometric measurement of glucose concentration with an immobilized glucose oxidase/catalase electrode.

A series of enzyme electrodes for measurement of glucose have been constructed. The electrodes contain glucose oxidase immobilized on platinum, either with or without co-immobilization of catalase. When placed in buffered glucose, the enzyme electrodes show a potentiometric response to glucose with respect to a Ag/AgCl reference electrode. This response is reproducible in the physiologic range of glucose concentrations. The immobilization technique, some of the environmental variables such as oxygen concentration and pH, and several compounds that might interfere with the selectivity of the enzyme electrodes for glucose have received preliminary study. This direct potentiometric approach is undergoing further evaluation to determine the basic electrochemical mechanism responsible for the potentiometric signal and whether it can be adapted for continuous in vivo monitoring of the glucose concentration in body fluids.