Biosensor Potential Reset for Stable Glucose Measurement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing biosensing methods face challenges in achieving accurate, stable, and long-term quantitative measurement of substrate concentrations due to issues like varying response times, resolution loss at high concentrations, noise from external factors, and instability of sensor surfaces, particularly in glucose sensing using enzyme electrodes.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a biosensor with an oxidoreductase enzyme electrode and a counter electrode, where a potential is applied between the electrodes for a specific period before measuring the potential difference, allowing for direct monitoring of the enzyme's electron state and enabling accurate, reproducible measurements by resetting the enzyme's state.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If open circuit potential change is measured without applying potential first, then the sensor structure is simple, but response time varies and resolution is lost at high concentrations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensor structureVSAvoidresolution and response time consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a predetermined potential to the enzyme electrode for a specific time period before measuring the open circuit potential change. This preliminary action resets the enzyme's redox state to a known initial condition, ensuring consistent starting points for all measurements. This resolves the variation in response time and prevents resolution loss at high concentrations by eliminating the uncertainty of the enzyme's initial state.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If conductive polymer is used to detect electron transfer, then electron transfer can be detected, but noise is produced by physical changes such as swelling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectron transfer detectionVSAvoidnoise from physical changes
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the conductive polymer component from the sensor system and directly measures the open circuit potential change of the enzyme electrode itself. By extracting the problematic conductive polymer, the measurement is no longer affected by physical changes such as swelling that generate noise, while still enabling detection of electron transfer from the enzyme's redox reactions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Measurement precision

If hydrogen peroxide is used as electron acceptor, then the first generation glucose sensor principle is achieved, but irreversible damage occurs to the sensor surface material

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveglucose sensing capabilityVSAvoidsensor surface stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using hydrogen peroxide as the electron acceptor (which causes oxidative damage to the sensor surface), the patent utilizes the enzyme's own redox reactions and measures the resulting open circuit potential change directly. This converts the potentially harmful chemical pathway into a benign electrical measurement, preserving sensor surface integrity while maintaining glucose sensing capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

4Productivity

If enzyme-immobilized film is used for continuous sensing, then substrate concentration can be measured, but stability of the enzyme film deteriorates over time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous measurement capabilityVSAvoidenzyme film stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a predetermined potential to the enzyme electrode before each measurement to reset the enzyme's redox state. This preliminary action prevents accumulation of reduced enzyme forms that could lead to film degradation, thereby maintaining enzyme film stability during continuous measurements while preserving the ability to continuously measure substrate concentration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach provides more accurate, stable, and reproducible measurements by minimizing noise from external factors and preventing resolution loss, allowing for continuous and single measurements with improved enzyme stability.

Implementation Method 1

measuring a change in the potential difference between the enzyme electrode and the counter electrode due to an oxidation reaction of the target substance catalyzed by the oxidoreductase

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOxidation reaction: Oxidation

Implementation Method 2

direct monitoring of the enzyme's electron state

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectron transfer: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentEP3578665B1Biosensing method
Publication Date: 2024.02.21 ARKRAY INC
  • EP3578665B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3578665B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3578665B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method for quantifying a target substance, comprising: bringing a sample containing the target substance into contact with a biosensor which comprises an enzyme electrode containing an oxidoreductase and a counter electrode; measuring a change in the potential difference between the enzyme electrode and the counter electrode due to an oxidation reaction of the target substance catalyzed by the oxidoreductase; and calculating the concentration of the target substance based on the change in the potential difference; wherein a potential is applied between the enzyme electrode and the counter electrode before the measurement of the change in the potential difference.