ENGINEERING THE RIGHT MEMBRANES FOR ELECTRODES AT THE BIOLOGICAL INTERFACE - SOLVENT-CAST AND ELECTROPOLYMERIZED

A generic approach to adapting many sensors to the rigours of biomedic al measurement is to protect appropriate components with selective sol ute discriminating membrane layers. Our work has utilised external bar rier membranes for mass transport control to enzyme electrodes in orde r to adapt their behaviour to requisite clinical ranges; these membran es have had the additional important effect of reducing surface deposi tion of colloid and other material on electrode surfaces. Internal mem branes, especially those interposed between the enzyme layer and the w orking electrode of an amperometric sensor, have been found by us to b e remarkably important in determining sensor operational stability. Th is paper will review such membrane materials, including coating techno logies, and suggest appropriate directions for future work.