Coin-Sized, Fully Integrated and Minimally Invasive Continuous Glucose Monitoring System based on Organic Electrochemical Transistors

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems are currently a major focus of research in advanced diabetes management. The rapid development in this field calls for next-generation CGMs with improved sensitivity, reliability, and wearability.<br/><br/>Here, we propose a coin-sized, fully-integrated, wearable CGM system [1] that combines cutting-edge technologies from the intersecting fields of biosensors, minimally invasive tools, and hydrogels.<br/><br/>This CGM system includes: 1) an emerging biochemical amplifier, the organic electrochemical transistor (OECT), to improve sensitivity beyond traditional electrochemical modules; 2) a microneedle array for interstitial-fluid (ISF) sampling with reduced pain during skin penetration ; and 3) a tough, adhesive enzymatic-hydrogel-membrane to enhance reliability of glucose sensing on skin. Unlike conventional CGMs, the employed OECT amplifier empowers the OECT-CGM with a high anti-noise ability, an on-demand-tunable sensitivity and current regeneration ability, enabling long-term stable glucose sensing within specific clinical ranges (1~20 mM).<br/><br/>This work paves the way for the development of next-generation CGMs that can simultaneously deliver high and adjustable sensitivity, minimal invasiveness, and improved wearability.<br/><br/>[1]. Submitted.