Computer simulation of transport processes in biosensor microreactors

Microelectronic ferment reactors are finding increasing employment as base elements of biosensor matrices. In this work, a computer simulation of a microelectronic reactor based on ion-sensitive elements, such as transistor or electrolyte-insulator-semiconductor structure, is presented. Our objective involved elucidation of quantitative relations between the sensor design and its characteristics. The computer simulation is performed for different versions of both enzyme carriers and their positions in the microreactor cell. The results of simulation enabled us to optimise both design and all-over dimensions of the microreactor. The principal sensor parameters (such as response rate, amplitude and time lag) are calculated for the optimum cell. A comparison between the calculated models and the corresponding experimental results obtained with the help of considered types of microreactors is carried out. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.