Managing diabetes is tough for millions. Traditional glucose monitors often need painful finger pricks to collect blood samples. It’s inconvenient and can be distressing. Thankfully, new technology is changing this with a wearable sweat sensor that could transform how we monitor glucose levels.
Diabetes raises blood sugar, leading to serious health issues like heart problems and nerve damage. Type 1 diabetes needs constant monitoring and insulin, while Type 2 diabetes, which is more common, can often be managed with lifestyle choices and medication. Both types require solid glucose tracking to avoid complications.
As diabetes becomes more widespread, with estimates reaching 1.3 billion people by 2050, easy-to-use monitoring options are urgently needed.
Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems are changing the game. Unlike older methods that require multiple daily finger pricks, CGMs provide real-time glucose data. They use interstitial fluid from beneath the skin, making the process less invasive.
CGMs help users see trends in their glucose levels, allowing better health decisions. However, they typically rely on enzymes that can wear out, making sensor replacement necessary.
Most current sensors use enzymes for detection, but these can degrade quickly. While some advancements in protein engineering have been made, they haven’t fully solved the problem of enzyme stability.
Non-enzymatic sensors are emerging as a hopeful alternative, using materials other than enzymes. However, their lack of selectivity limits their use.
Researchers from Binghamton University are developing an exciting solution—a microbial whole-cell sensing system. They published their findings in the journal Microsystems & Nanoengineering, highlighting how Bacillus subtilis spores can detect glucose through sweat.
The spores react to glucose by germinating and creating electricity. This electricity becomes a signal for glucose detection, offering a stable and cost-friendly option compared to regular CGMs.
This system uses a microengineered, paper-based microbial fuel cell. When glucose appears in sweat, it activates the spores. These spores release electrons that are captured, turning them into signals.
Self-powered, the device needs no outside energy supply, which makes it great for wearables. Plus, the spores are durable, with a long shelf life, overcoming a major limitation of today’s glucose monitoring tools.
Professor Seokheun “Sean” Choi leads the research. He pointed out how beneficial this approach is: “Enzymes break down over time. Our system can survive harsh conditions and activates only when needed.”
The microbial fuel cell can detect very low glucose levels, even down to 0.07 mM. It also works well even when other substances are present, showcasing its selectivity.
Unlike traditional sensors which fade over time, this spore system keeps its functionality and can be restarted when necessary. This durability makes it a promising choice for managing diabetes.
Yang “Lexi” Gao, a Ph.D. student in Choi’s lab, played a key role in this project. With her background in marine chemistry, she tailored her skills for creating paper-based biosensors. She praised the sustainability and affordability of this new system: “It’s clean, environmentally friendly, and because it’s on paper, it’s easy to use and inexpensive.”
Gao previously worked on similar projects with paper batteries and moisture-harvesting devices, which helped her in this innovation.
Assistant Professor Anwar Elhadad also contributed by mentoring Gao on circuit design. Together, they created a circuit that visualizes signals. When glucose is high, an LED lights up, giving instant feedback to users.
Although the prototype shows promise, more work is needed to fine-tune its performance. Choi mentioned, “Everyone has different potassium levels in sweat, and we’re not sure how this affects glucose readings. The sensitivity is also not as high as with traditional biosensors. But we’ve developed a new way to detect glucose, which is groundbreaking.”
The research could benefit more than just diabetes patients. This microbial sensing platform has potential for environmental monitoring and diagnostics in various fields due to its stability and low cost.
This new technology could significantly improve life for people with diabetes by removing the pain of current monitoring methods.
Using Bacillus subtilis spores opens doors to wearable, non-invasive sensors and advances in biosensing technology overall. This research shows how biology and engineering can work together to tackle ongoing health issues.
Gao’s chemistry skills, Choi’s bioelectronics background, and Elhadad’s circuit knowledge show how teamwork can lead to remarkable innovations. Their efforts are backed by the National Science Foundation, emphasizing a shared goal of enhancing scientific progress for everyone.
The next challenges involve understanding how variable potassium levels affect sensor readings and improving its sensitivity. However, the groundwork laid so far is strong. As research progresses, the potential applications for this technology could grow, impacting many areas beyond healthcare.
This spore-based system represents not just a tech breakthrough; it showcases the creativity and hard work of researchers trying to fix real issues.
By offering a stable and user-friendly glucose monitoring solution, this technology could change how diabetes is managed and improve the lives of millions worldwide.
