A semiconductive polymer film sensor for glucose

The electrical conductivity of organic polymers such as polyacetylene and its derivatives can be varied over twelve orders of magnitude with small amounts (0-3%) of various dopants, such as iodine, bromine, and perchloric acid. Semiconductive polyacetylene film doped with iodine is sensitive to hydrogen peroxide, and can be used as a quantitative hydrogen peroxide sensor. A rapid, quantitative sensor for glucose, using the flavoprotein glucose oxidase, is described and introduces a novel electroactive material, polyacetylene, as the basis for a new biosensor. A significant increase in the sensitivity of this device has been obtained by mediating the doping reaction through lactoperoxidase and potassium iodide.