Glucose-sensitivity of glucose oxidase-containing cationic copolymer hydrogels having poly(ethylene glycol) grafts

Glucose oxidase and catalase were immobilized on poly(diethylaminoethyl met hacrylate-g-ethylene glycol) gels by copolymerization of the constituent mo nomers and the functionalized enzyme solutions. The hydrogels were prepared in the form of discs and microparticles. The amount and the activity of en zymes immobilized in the matrix were determined. The hydrogels were tested for their response to glucose by exposing microparticles to varying concent rations of glucose. The generation of gluconic acid as a result of the reac tion of glucose with oxygen was investigated as a function of polymer param eters, such as crosslinking ratio and enzyme loading. Pulsatile variation o f the glucose concentration was used to confirm the glucose-dependent swell ing properties of these hydrogels. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All right s reserved.