Hydrogel Provides Real-Time Glucose Monitoring

Aug-28-14 A new color-changing hydrogel able to continuously monitor glucose levels is precise enough to be used for automatic insulin dosing.

The sensor, developed by a team from the University of Illinois, is made up a hydrogel containing boronic acid compounds, which bind to glucose, and photonic crystal beads. As the acid draws the glucose into the gel, the gels expands, which in turn changes the arrangement of the photonic beads and the color of the gel. By analyzing the precise color of the gel, staff (or devices) can determine the concentration of glucose in the blood.

The hydrogel is simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and one square inch of the material could be enough for as many as 25 people.

More Info about this Invention:

[GIZMAG.COM]
[ILLINOIS.EDU]

---