Portable continuous glucose monitoring systems with implantable fluorescent hydrogel microfibers

Abstract

We present a portable glucose monitoring system comprised of an implantable fluorescent-hydrogel sensor, wearable photo detector, microcontroller, wireless device and software for transdermal, continuous glucose monitoring. Although we showed the potential of the fluorescent-hydrogel fibers for applying to long-term, implanted glucose monitoring, “true” continuous glucose monitoring with a portable monitoring system has yet to be realized. In the system that we propose here, the calculated glucose values show a good correlation with the actual blood glucose concentrations. The portable device attached to the ear of a rat and measured the fluorescence intensity for three days. Therefore, our system shows the potential for practical, “true,” continuous glucose monitoring.