Four different poly(pyridine) complexes of ruthenium, viz. Ru(II)(trpy)(phen)(OH(2))](2+) (1), trans-[Ru(III)(2,2'bpy)(2)(OH(2))(OH)](2+) (2), [(2,2'bpy)(2)(OH)Ru(III)ORu(III)(OH)(2,2'bpy)(2)](4+) (3), and [Ru(II)(4,4'bpy)(NH(3))(5)](2+) (4) (2,2'bpy=2,2'-bipyridine, 4,4'bpy=4,4'-bipyridine, trpy=2,2',2"-terpyridine, phen=1,10-phenanthroline), were tested as non-physiological charge mediators of 'second-generation' glucose biosensors. The membranes for these biosensors were prepared by casting anionic carboxymethylated beta-cyclodextrin polymer films (beta-CDPA) directly onto the Pt or glassy carbon (GC) disk electrodes. Simultaneously, glucose oxidase (GOD) was immobilized in the films by covalent bonding and the Ru complexes were incorporated both by inclusion in the beta-CD molecular cavities and by ion exchange at the fixed carboxymethyl cation-exchange sites. The leakage of the mediator from the polymer has been minimized by adopting a suitable pre-treatment procedure. The biosensors catalytic activities increased in the order 1<2<3<4, as established by linear sweep voltammetry. In case of complexes 2-4, the enzymatic glucose oxidation was mediated by the Ru complexes at their redox potentials. However, this oxidation was mediated by oxygen in case of complex 1 where H(2)O(2) was detected as the reaction product. The effectiveness of the mediators used in the presence of oxygen has been estimated using Pt and GC supports. The redox potential of the mediator does not depend on the support used, while the oxidation of H(2)O(2) proceeds on GC at much higher positive potentials than on Pt. The sensitivity and the linear concentration range of the biosensor studied varied significantly. For complex 4, which forms stable inclusion complex with beta-CD, the biosensor sensitivity was the highest and equal to 7.2 micro A mM(-1) cm(-2), detectability was as low as 1 mM, but the linear concentration range was limited only to 4 mM. In contrast, for complexes 2 and 3 the sensitivity was 0.4 and 3.2 micro A mM(-1) cm(-2), while the linear concentration range extended up to at least 24 and 14 mM glucose, respectively. Even though some common interfering substances, such as ascorbate, paracetamol or urea, are oxidized at potentials close to those of the Ru complex redox couples, their electro-oxidation currents at physiological concentrations are insignificant compared to those due to the biocatalytic oxidation of glucose. The biosensor response to glucose is reversible as demonstrated by the inhibition of GOD activity by Cu(II). That is, the Cu(II) concentration required to inhibit by half the response to glucose of the biosensor containing complex 2 was 1.0 mM. This inhibitory effect was fully reversed by addition of citrate, a ligand forming sufficiently stable complex with Cu(II).