In vitro and short-term in vivo characteristics of a Kel-F thin film modified glucose sensor.

A new outer layer composition, consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), Kel-F oil, and Nafion, is suggested to minimize the detrimental effect of dissolved oxygen and to extend the linear response range of a glucose oxidase(GOx)-based sensor using nonconducting polymer. The morphology of Kel-F/PTFE/Kel-F/Nafion polymeric laminate was followed during fabrication by SEM. When Kel-F film was formed on the PTFE outer layer, the linear response was extended to 21 mM, at a sensitivity of 2.8 +/- 0.8 nA/mM mm2. We demonstrate that a sensor without Kel-F/PTFE/Kel-F/Nafion outer layer is relatively oxygen dependent, whereas by comparison a sensor with Kel-F/PTFE/Kel-F/Nafion outer layer is oxygen independent. The current of such a glucose sensor implanted in the subcutaneous tissue stabilized within 60 min, and the lag between blood glucose changes and sensor output was within 1 min. The in vivo characteristics of the glucose sensor described show great promise for one-point in vivo calibration.