Numerical simulation of a plate-gap biosensor with an outer porous membrane

A plate-gap model of a porous enzyme doped electrode covered by a porous membrane has been proposed and analyzed. The two-dimensional-in-space mathematical model of the plate-gap biosensor is based on the reaction–diffusion equations containing a nonlinear term related to Michaelis–Menten kinetics of the enzymatic reaction. The model involves four regions: the enzyme-filled gaps where the enzymatic reaction as well as the mass transport by diffusion take place, the porous membrane, a diffusion limiting region where only the mass transport by diffusion takes place, and a convective region where the analyte concentration is maintained constant. Using numerical simulation, the effect of the biosensor geometry on the biosensor response was investigated. The simulation was carried out using the finite difference technique. The mathematical model as well as numerical solution were validated using analytical solutions existing for specific cases of the model parameters.