Continuous Glucose Monitoring System Based on Percutaneous Microneedle Array

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Wearable Technology
• Biosensors

Background:

• Traditional blood glucose monitoring involves painful finger pricks and disposable test strips.
• There is a need for continuous, minimally invasive glucose monitoring solutions for better diabetes management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a wearable continuous blood glucose monitoring system (CGMS) using microneedle array sensors.
• To provide a less invasive alternative to conventional blood glucose testing methods.

Main Methods:

• Development of a wearable device integrating a microneedle-array blood glucose sensor, circuit, and transmission module.
• Utilizing a 1 mm microneedle array for percutaneous glucose sensing and wireless data transmission to a mobile device.
• Employing a micro-transfer method for enzyme deposition and cyclic voltammetry for sensor verification.

Main Results:

• The microneedle sensor demonstrated accurate measurement of in vitro glucose solutions (50-400 mg/dL).
• Enzyme deposition showed less than 10% variation across microneedles.
• The device achieved effective durability of approximately 7 days and was evaluated for feasibility in human subjects.

Conclusions:

• The developed microneedle-based CGMS is a feasible, minimally invasive approach for continuous glucose monitoring.
• This technology offers a promising alternative to traditional blood glucose testing, potentially improving patient comfort and adherence.