Glucose biosensors or "continuous glucose monitors (CGMs)" that would continuously monitor blood sugar levels (from the interstitial fluid) have advanced diabetes management beyond that afforded by conventional finger prick tests. However, on-the-market CGMs have a high user burden associated with their limited lifetime and the need for a transcutaneous design to enable frequent exchanges. The lifetime of current and emergent CGMs are limited by “biofouling” – surface adsorption of proteins and cells (part of the foreign body response) - which quickly blocks glucose diffusion.
What we are doing
We are developing a “self-cleaning membrane” using thermoresponsive hydrogels that undergo cyclical and subtle deswelling/reswelling to “clean off” proteins and cells in order to maintain glucose diffusion and extend biosensor lifetime.
