

Researchers at the Institute of Industrial Science at the University of Tokyo have published initial trial results of a novel fluorescent fiber sensor for long-term in vivo continuous glucose monitoring. According to the study, which was published online earlier this month in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the sensor aims to overcome current limitations with existing enzyme-based implanted glucose sensors which are currently limited by poor accuracy, stability and are oxygen dependent.

The sensor is comprised of glucose-responsive fluorescent hydrogels encapsulated in a fiber structure. The fiber is 1mm in diameter and can be easily injected under the skin and removed with tweezers. In essence, it is an injectable light pipe which glows in response to changes in blood glucose concentrations. The sensor was found to be accurate, stable and sensitive for up to 140 days in mice.

While further calibration and testing of the sensor is needed, the researchers anticipate that this approach may facilitate development of long-term, fluorescent, implanted continuous glucose sensors. This is a pretty amazing development and it will be interesting to see how this develops. We just wonder how this will affect soft drink sales at the movies…

Abstract in PNAS: Long-term in vivo glucose monitoring using fluorescent hydrogel fibers

Japanese language press release…