Real-Time Glucose Sensing Using a MEMS-Based Bi-Material Deflecting Membrane

Self-monitoring of blood glucose has become an important and critical tool for effective management of diabetes. A closed-loop, real-time sensing and dispensing system, however, has been elusive. We describe here, a novel MEMS-based sensor intended to measure, in realtime, the concentration of glucose in a solution. The device utilizes a bi-material membrane with a functional hydrogel layer that swells reversibly, and in proportion to, the presence of glucose. The hydrogel is composed of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) functionalized with 3-acrylamidophenylboronic acid (AAPBA) groups as the glucose-sensitive moiety. Phenylboronic acid (PBA) derivatives interact with glucose by forming a charged complex, causing the hydrogel to swell by solvent intake [1].