Glucose-Sensing Electrode Coated with Polymer Complex Gel Containing Phenylboronic Acid

Abstract

We have prepared a copolymer containing both phenylboronic acid and tertiary amine moieties. The copolymer forms a stable complex with poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) since boronate moieties interact with PVA hydroxyl groups. The polymer-polymer complex changes its swelling degree with glucose concentration in Dulbecco's phosphate-buffered saline solution (PBS) at pH 7.4, due to the higher complex formation of boronic acid moieties with glucose hydroxyl groups over those in PVA. Glucose-responsive swelling changes of a membrane complex were then utilized to control glucose-responsive current changes with a membrane-coated platinum electrode. Glucose addition to PBS induces swelling of the cast gel membrane, leading to increased diffusion of ion species and thus increased measurable current changes. Since the addition of methyl α-d-glucoside has little influence on the current changes, the current change by the addition of glucose is indicative of the high selectivity of this system for glucose and its cis-hydroxyl groups in glucose. It is observed that current changes are proportional to glucose concentration in the range 0-300 mg/dL. This range corresponds well to physiological blood glucose levels. Current change rates determined from the slope of the time course immediately after glucose addition are also proportional to glucose concentration within this range, yielding even higher sensitivity to the change in glucose concentration. Reproducible signal output is also demonstrated by repetitive, stepwise glucose concentration changes. These results support the applicability of the platinum electrode coated with the gel membrane complex comprising a phenylboronic acid-containing polymer and PVA for a novel glucose-sensing device.