The GlucoWatch biographer is a device developed by Cygnus, Inc. which provides automatic, continual, and non-invasive glucose measurements for diabetics. Glucose is extracted through the skin via electro-osmosis and measured with an amperometric biosensor must achieve a much lower detection limit that conventional finger-stab glucose monitors. A high signal-to-noise ratio is especially important for accurate measurement at hypoglycemic glucose levels. This proposal focus on sensor single-to-noise improvements that can be achieved by improving both the sensitive to H2O2 and the background current arising from interfering species co-exacted with glucose through the skin. The biosensor sensing electrode is fabricated from a custom- formulated platinum-carbon composite screen printing ink. The catalyst particle size and number density on the electrode surface for optimal performance can be modeled using microelectrode ensemble theory, and prototyped via electroplating techniques. Catalysts offer than platinum, which old promise to reduce the sensitivity to co-extracted species, will be evaluated using the same electroplating techniques. By using this rational design of catalytic electrode surfaces, the performance of the GlucoWatch biographer will be enhanced in the hypoglycemic range where accurate determination of glucose level is crucial.
These improved biosensor materials will have direct impact on a non- invasive glucose monitor, the GlucoWatch biographer. These materials enhance the performance of the device and enable it to operate as an effective hypoglycemia alarm system to be incorporated into a second- generation GlucoWatch biographer.
