Researchers at Texas A&M University have identified a lower-cost component for an experimental injectable glucose sensor, according to a study published in ACS Measurement Science AU. The team said a sensing material costing roughly one-tenth as much as a commonly used alternative delivered similar performance. The work is aimed at continuous glucose monitors, which the university said some patients cannot afford.
The sensor is nonenzymatic and uses near-infrared fluorescence to track glucose through changes in light signals. The researchers said the lower-cost compound, β-mannopentaose, performed comparably to the more expensive α-mannopentaose used in earlier versions. It also worked well in artificial interstitial fluid, a solution designed to mimic conditions under the skin.
Dr. Sayantan Tripathy, an assistant research scientist and the study's lead author, said the cheaper option was not really a compromise. Dr. Gérard L. Coté, the principal investigator and a professor of biomedical engineering, said the study shows the cost of one sensing component can be substantially reduced while keeping performance comparable. The researchers also built the chemistry into a small injectable hydrogel designed to sit beneath the skin.