Characterization of Glucose Microsensors Small Enough for Intracellular Measurements

Ultrasmall glucose sensors have been constructed by using platinum deposited carbon ring microelectrodes with glucose oxidase. Response times as low as 270 ms have been obtained with these sensors. Moreover, there is a linear relationship between sensor tip diameter and response times. The use of these sensors have been demonstrated in the detection of glucose in a single cell cytoplasm of the large dopamine cell of the pond snail, Planorbis corneus. Current responses obtained at these sensors implanted into a cell increase following injection of 2 pL glucose solution (3 M) into the cell. Results obtained from these experiments show that these sensors are suitable for glucose monitoring in ultrasmall environments. In addition, characterization of these sensors have been investigated under different O2 concentrations. At atmospheric oxygen concentrations, glucose levels in the submillimolar range can be measured without oxygen interference; however, oxygen interference can be substantial at low oxygen concentrations.