“Self-cleaning” Membranes for Glucose Biosensors

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.

Publications on this research

Silicone-containing thermoresponsive membranes to form an optical glucose biosensor

Dong, P.; Singh, K.A.; Soltes, A.M.; Ko, B.K.; Gahararwar, A.K.; McShane, M.J.; Grunlan, M.A. “Silicone-containing thermoresponsive membranes to form an optical glucose biosensor,” J. Mater. Chem. B, 2022, 10, 6118-6132.

A glucose biosensor based on phosphorescence lifetime sensing and a thermoresponsive membrane

Dong, P.; Ko, B.K.; Lomeli, K.A.; Clark, E.C.; McShane, M.J.; Grunlan, M.A. “A glucose biosensor based on phosphorescence lifetime sensing and a thermoresponsive membrane,” Macromol. Rapid Comm., 2022, 2100902.

A comb architecture to control the selective diffusivity of a double network hydrogel

Dong, P.; Schott, B.J.; Means, A.K.; Grunlan, M.A. “A comb architecture to control the selective diffusivity of a double network hydrogel,” ACS Appl. Polym. Mater. 2020, 2, 5269–5277

A self-cleaning, mechanically robust membrane for minimizing the foreign body reaction: towards extending the lifetime of sub-Q glucose biosensors

Means, A.K.; Dong, P.; Clubb, Jr, F.J.; Friedemann, M.C.; Colvin, L.E.; Shrode, C.A.; Coté, G.L; Grunlan, M.A. “A self-cleaning, mechanically robust membrane for minimizing the foreign body reaction: towards extending the lifetime of sub-Q glucose biosensors,” J. Mater. Sci. Mater. Med. 2019, 30, 79.

A layer-by-layer (LbL) approach to retain an optical glucose sensing assay within the cavity of a hydrogel membrane

Locke, A.K.; Means, A.K.; Dong, P.; Nichols, T.J.; Coté, G.L.; Grunlan, M.A. “A layer-by-layer (LbL) approach to retain an optical glucose sensing assay within the cavity of a hydrogel membrane,” ACS Applied Bio Mater., 2018, 1, 1319-1327.

Foreign body reaction to a subcutaneously implanted self-cleaning, thermoresponsive hydrogel membrane for implanted glucose biosensors

Abraham, A.A.; Means, A.K.; Clubb, Jr, F.J.; Fei, R.; Locke, A.K.; Gacasan, E.G.; Coté, G.L; Grunlan, M.A. “Foreign body reaction to a subcutaneously implanted self-cleaning, thermoresponsive hydrogel membrane for implanted glucose biosensors,” ACS Biomater. Sci. Eng., 2018, 4, 4104-4111.

Thermoresponsive double network hydrogels with exceptional mechanical properties

Means, A.K.; Ehrhardt, D.A.; Whitney, L.V.; Grunlan, M.A. “Thermoresponsive double network hydrogels with exceptional mechanical properties,” Macromol. Rapid Comm., 2017, 38, 1700351-1700357.

Self-cleaning, thermoresponsive P(NIPAAm-co-AMPS) double network membranes for implanted glucose biosensors

Fei, R., Means, A.K., Abraham, A.A.; Locked, A.K.; Coté; G.L.; Grunlan, M.A.. “Self-cleaning, thermoresponsive P(NIPAAm-co-AMPS) double network membranes for implanted glucose biosensors,” Macromol. Mater. Eng., 2016, 301, 935-943.

Thermoresponsive double network micropillared hydrogels for cell release

Fei, R.; Hou, H.; Munoz-Pinto, D.; Han, A.; Hahn, M.S.; Grunlan, M.A. “Thermoresponsive double network micropillared hydrogels for cell release,” Macromol. Biosci.; 2014, 14, 1346-1352.

A self-cleaning membrane to extend the lifetime of an implanted glucose biosensor

Abraham, A.A.; Fei, R.; Coté, G.L.; Grunlan, M.A. “A self-cleaning membrane to extend the lifetime of an implanted glucose biosensor,” ACS Appl. Mater. & Interfaces, 2013, 5, 12832-12838.

Ultra strong thermoresponsive hydrogels

Fei, R.; George, J.T.; Means, A.K.; Grunlan, M.A. “Ultra strong thermoresponsive hydrogels,” Soft Matter. 2013, 9, 2912-2919.

Thermoresponsive nanocomposite double network nanocomposite hydrogels

Fei, R.; George, J.T.; Park, J., Grunlan, M.A. “Thermoresponsive nanocomposite double network nanocomposite hydrogels,” Soft Matter 2012, 8, 481-487.

Thermoresponsive nanocomposite hydrogels: Transparency, rapid deswelling and cell release

Fei, R.; George, J.T.; Park, J., Grunlan, M.A. “Thermoresponsive nanocomposite double network nanocomposite hydrogels,” Soft Matter 2012, 8, 481-487.