ELECTRICAL-PROPERTIES OF GLUCOSE-SENSITIVE HYDROGELS - SWELLING AND CONDUCTIVITY RELATIONSHIPS

The electrical characteristics of a glucose-sensitive polymeric hydrog el have been studied. The hydrogel matrices were prepared by radical p olymerization of solutions containing 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, N,N -dimethyl aminoethyl methacrylate, tetraethylene glycol dimethacrylate , ethylene glycol, water, and glucose oxidase. The hydrogels displayed faster and higher swelling rates for lower levels of a crosslinking a gent. Electrical conductivity was found to be a sensitive measurement of the state of the swelling. A simple model that relates hydrogel swe lling and conductivity has been proposed. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.