The objective is to develop a microfabricated biosensing platform based on Glucose Binding Protein (GBP) that continuously and reliably measures glucose levels in the hypoglycemic, normal, and hyperglycemic range. The platform will consist of three components: a glucose-sensing array based on the electrochemical detection of glucose using the model enzyme glucose oxidase (GOx), an independent power supply, and a telemetry system. The performance of this biosensing array will be compared with that of the well-established GOx glucose biosensor.
Intellectual Merit: The project has significance beyond blood glucose monitoring, since identical miniaturized biosensing platforms can be utilized for other applications with a wide range of other biosensors. In addition, multiple sensors selective to a series of analytes can be incorporated in different reservoirs within a single device, allowing the measurement of multiple analytes. Moreover, this platform can be utilized as a responsive drug delivery system. Such a system integrates reservoirs loaded with miniature sensors with drug-containing reservoirs. Finally, the proposed platforms should result in enabling technologies that will find applications in individualized medicine.
Broader Impact: The work will involve students at both, the graduate and undergraduate levels. Such work will foster interdisciplinary interactions and will provide the students with the necessary skills and knowledge for the design and development of novel biotechnologies. The investigators plan to broadly disseminate the results of this work and raise the awareness of the general public in diabetes research, biosensing, hybrid systems, and device miniaturization. This will be accomplished through participation in workshops and outreach programs. The newly developed technologies will be highlighted in bioengineering courses.
This research has advanced hybrid microfabrication technology and microfluidics by integrating biosensors with state-of-the art microfabrication procedures and materials. The research has made a significant contribution to the real-time continuous monitoring of blood glucose level in diabetic patients. Easy to perform self-monitoring of glucose levels is a key component in diabetes care and compliance aimed to decrease the risk of diabetic complications and to increase life expectancy. The project has also advanced biosensing technology since the proposed miniaturized microfabricated biosensing platform improves the lifetimes and reliability for a wide range of biosensors, including enzymatic biosensors. Multiple sensor types can be incorporated within a single device. Further, the platform can also combine sensors and drug release reservoirs resulting in a responsive drug delivery system where release of a specific drug dose depends on the concentration of the target molecule detected by the biosensor. The work accomplished by the research group in the University of California, Irvine advanced the development of the extended-life biosensor platform by the optimization of the design and fabrication strategy of single-chip biosensor array that contains microcavities protected by polymeric bi-layer valves. The electronic control unit for the biochip was also constructed. The optimized components were integrated into a single device and the functionality of the produced prototype biosensor platform was successfully tested. The BioMEMS research team (University of California, Irvine) has collaborated with the researchers at the University of Kentucky who were immobilizing biosensors inside the protected cavities of the biochip. A large number of graduate and undergraduate students (including women researchers who are under-represented among science and engineering students) have participated in the training and research activities. Research results obtained in the course of the project were disseminated to the research community and general public via website updates, presentations, and publications (five articles in peer-reviewed journals and two book chapters). There was a considerable outreach effort from the research collaborators to their local communities designed to inform and attract interest of the people, especially school-age children to science, health issues, and biotechnology.
