Which Parameters Affect the Response of the Channel Biosensor?

The important parameters in defining the response of the portable channel biosensor described previously are explored by connecting the portable flow cell to a gravity feed flow system and using a highly defined enzyme immobilization protocol which ensures the enzyme reaction is a surface reaction. The enzyme glucose oxidase (GOD) was immobilized by covalent attachment to a self‐assembled monolayer modified gold surface. As a glucose solution flowed down the rectangular duct defined by the flow cell, it passed over the enzyme layer where the enzyme reaction produced hydrogen peroxide. The hydrogen peroxide was swept further downstream to the detector electrode. The response of such an enzyme electrode was shown to be limited by mass transport of the cosubstrate oxygen to the enzyme layer. Increasing the amount of oxygen in the sample meant the response of the biosensor became limited by the enzyme kinetics. The influence of parameters such as flow rate, height of the channel, enzyme layer length and the gap between the enzyme layer and the detector electrode were explored.