Mechanisms controlling the sensitivity of amperometric biosensors in flow injection analysis systems

This paper numerically investigates the sensitivity of an amperometric biosensor acting in the flow injection mode when the biosensor contacts an analyte for a short time. The analytical system is modelled by non-stationary reaction-diffusion equations containing a non-linear term related to the Michaelis-Menten kinetics of an enzymatic reaction. The mathematical model involves three regions: the enzyme layer where enzymatic reaction as well as the mass transport by diffusion takes place, a diffusion limiting region where only the diffusion takes place, and a convective region. The biosensor operation is analysed with a special emphasis to the conditions at which the biosensor sensitivity can be increased and the calibration curve can be prolonged by changing the injection duration, the permeability of the external diffusion layer, the thickness of the enzyme layer and the catalytic activity of the enzyme. The apparent Michaelis constant is used as a main characteristic of the sensitivity and the calibration curve of the biosensor. The numerical simulation was carried out using the finite difference technique.