Potentially-implantable, ferrocene-mediated glucose sensor

We describe the construction and in vitro testing of a new potentially-implantable amperometric glucose sensor which is based on mediated electron transfer between immobilized glucose oxidase and a graphite base electrode. Under potentiostatic control, entrapped 1,1'-dimethylferrocene acts as an alternative electron acceptor to oxygen and provides a sensing strategy which is relatively unaffected by possible fluctuations in in vivo oxygen tension. Simple 1 mm wide electrodes with a polyurethane membrane gave linear current responses to at least 20 mmol/l glucose with a mean response time of 68 s. An acceptable proportion (17%) of electrodes had low or zero drift over 17 h at 37 degrees C. With plasma samples from diabetic and non-diabetic subjects, glucose concentrations measured by the sensor were significantly correlated with values obtained by a reference laboratory glucose analyser but were proportionally lower. Extension of this study to in vivo testing and further miniaturization of electrodes is justified.