Collaborative Research: A Miniature Implantable Device for Continuous Glucose Monitoring

集成、混合和复杂的系统哥伦比亚大学机械工程系乔琳南卡罗来纳大学王倩用于血糖连续监测的微型植入式设备智能优点：该项目研究一种微型皮下植入式传感器系统，可以长期连续监测组织液中的血糖。在微电子机械系统(MEMS)技术的支持下，该设备将利用粘度学测量葡萄糖与葡萄糖特定聚合物的非消耗性、可逆平衡结合(即亲和力结合)。该装置由一个由半透膜密封在微腔中的振动元件组成。由葡萄糖专一性聚合物交联的多糖溶液填充微腔。葡萄糖从皮下组织通过膜渗透到腔内，并竞争性地与聚合物结合，导致多糖的可逆脱交联性。由此产生的溶液粘度的变化通过振动测量获得，从而确定葡萄糖浓度。测量数据传输可以通过无线电路实现。广泛影响：目前，美国约有2080万人患有糖尿病。已经证明，密切监测每日血糖水平可以降低糖尿病相关并发症的风险。这可以通过连续血糖监测(CGM)来实现，这是本研究中开发的微型亲和力传感器的预期用途。与其他CGM方法相比，所研究的装置利用平衡结合，并且不涉及葡萄糖的消耗。这意味着，当被植入时，该装置可以更耐受由于生物制剂的污染而导致的葡萄糖转运延迟。这使得稳定、长期连续的血糖监测成为可能。由于亲和力传感原理可扩展到其他分析感兴趣的化学物质，该设备可用于糖尿病和潜在的其他疾病的护理，以及战场新陈代谢监测、生物恐怖主义威胁检测和环境毒素监测等应用。这项研究与研究生和本科教育相结合，并涉及在纽约、纽约州和南卡罗来纳州哥伦比亚等地区积极的教育推广活动。

Integrative, Hybrid and Complex SystemsQiao Lin, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia UniversityQian Wang, University of South CarolinaA Miniature Implantable Device for Continuous Glucose MonitoringIntellectual Merit: This project investigates a miniature, subcutaneously implantable sensor system with the potential to allow long-term continuous monitoring of glucose in interstitial fluid. Enabled by micro electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) technology, the device will exploit viscometric measurements of non-consumptive, reversible equilibrium binding (i.e., affinity binding) of glucose to a glucose-specific polymer. The device consists of a vibrating element sealed in a micro-chamber by a semipermeable membrane. A solution of a polysaccharide, crosslinked by the glucose-specific polymer, fills the micro-chamber. Glucose permeates from subcutaneous tissue into the chamber through the membrane and competitively binds to the polymer, causing reversible de-crosslinking of the polysaccharide. The resulting changes in solution viscosity are obtained via vibration measurements, thereby determining the glucose concentration. Measurement data transmission can be achieved by wireless circuitry.Broader Impact: Currently, approximately 20.8 million people in the United States have diabetes. It has been demonstrated that close monitoring of daily blood glucose levels reduces the risk of diabetes-related complications. This can be accomplished by continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), which is the intended use of the miniature affinity sensor to be developed in this research. Compared with other CGM approaches, the device under investigation utilizes equilibrium binding and does not involve consumption of glucose. This implies that, when implanted, the device can be more tolerant to retardation of glucose transport resulting from fouling by biological agents. This allows stable, long-term continuous glucose monitoring. With the affinity sensing principle extendable to other chemical substances of analytical interest, the device is useful for the care of diabetes and potentially other diseases, as well as applications such as metabolic monitoring in the battlefield, bioterrorism threat detection, and environmental toxin monitoring. The research is integrated with graduate and undergraduate education and involves active educational outreach activities in the New York, NY and Columbia, SC, areas.