Encapsulation Forms and Modulation Chemistries for Ratiometric, Internally Calibrated Near Infrared Fluorescent Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Sensor for Reversible Glucose Detection

This device can be used as a single-walled carbon nanotube glucose sensor.  

Problem Addressed  

The current technology allows for continuous, in vivo glucose monitoring using an inexpensive, small-scale device.  

Technology

29 million people in the United States are currently affected with Diabetes, one of the leading causes of death, with 1.6 million new cases being diagnosed each year. Current treatment involves monitoring of glucose levels in the patient’s body. The basic glucose-monitoring device in use today uses a finger-glucose monitor and has certain disadvantages. These include pain associated with the finger stick and the discontinuous nature of the information provided. With such devices a patient must rely on few single-point measurements taken throughout the day to monitor blood glucose levels. As a result, there is a need for a real-time, continuous blood glucose monitor. Current in vivo sensors of biological compounds involve a sensor material that interacts with an analyte, forcing changes in absorption or luminescence properties upon exposure to a light source. However, these methods are expensive, require high resolution and involve use of bulky equipment.  In the current device, a single-walled carbon nanotube is combined with an analyte binding group, a glucose-binding protein or boronic acid, in such a way that the fluorescence or luminescence is altered when glucose interacts with it.  

Advantages

• Continuous, in vivo detection
• Inexpensive compared to state of the art
• Avoids use of bulky equipment