MATHEMATICAL MODELING OF AMPEROMETRIC ENZYME ELECTRODES

The advantages of computer assisted enzyme electrode design are demonstrated for the case of electrodes with cycling reactions. 1. Introduction The number of really existing amperometric enzyme electrodes is increasing. The arrangements become more and more complicated: - several enzymes are combined to enzyme systems — non-stationary operational modes are used — enzymes with non-linear kinetics are applied The designer of new enzyme electrodes can be much supported by making available suitable mathematical models: - calculation of all concentration profiles involved in the enzyme membrane (understanding of the basic principles) — prediction of the dynamic behaviour of the sensor, e.g. current/time behaviour, response time, linear measuring range. - optimizing of the sensor design (cost saving use of enzymes, achievement of given device parameters, use of commercial enzymes). This aim can be realized by a user-friendly software package which operates in the laboratory on a personal computer. The corresponding mathematical fundamentals are available: — one-dimensional reaction/diffusion systems are proved to be good - linear models have been investigated extensively, numerous explicit formulae have been derived — numerical methods and the tools for software development (compiler, libraries, graphics) are international standard