Glucose determination by means of a new reactor/sensor system operating under non-isothermal conditions

The dynamic and steady-state responses as well as the response times of a g lucose biosensor have been studied under isothermal and non-isothermal cond itions as a function of analyte concentration. The presence of a temperatur e gradient across the catalytic membrane system improved the biosensor char acteristics, because the dynamic and steady-stare responses increased and t he response times decreased under non-isothermal conditions. For example, a macroscopic temperature difference of 20 degrees C applied across the cata lytic membrane system increases the biosensor sensitivity of 70% and reduce s of 50% its response time. The dependence of the observed effects on the m agnitude of the temperature difference applied has been correlated with the substrate (and products) transport across the catalytic membrane system du e to the process of thermodialysis. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All righ ts reserved.