FEATURE OF ENTRAPMENT OF GLUCOSE-OXIDASE IN REGENERATED SILK FIBROIN MEMBRANES AND FABRICATION OF A 1,1'-DIMETHYLFERROCENE-MEDIATING GLUCOSE SENSOR

The structural characteristics of regenerated silk fibroin were determ ined IR spectra. Without ethanol treatment, the membrane has the struc ture of silk I. When treated with ethanol, the membrane possesses a mi xed structure of silk I and silk II. The structures of the blend membr ane were identified as a composite of the absorption bands characteris tic of both molecules. SEM showed that the blend membrane has an islan d-sea structure and nonuniform distribution of glucose oxidase inside the membrane may exist. An amperometric glucose sensor was constructed by utilizing 1,1'-dimethylferrocene as electron transfer mediator. Th e effects of various experimental parameters such as pH, temperature, buffer concentration, applied potential, and scan rate are explored fo r optimum analytical performance. The glucose sensor responds rapidly to glucose, with steady-state current responses achieved in less than 50 s. 1996 Academic Press, Inc. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.