Sugar biosensor could help diabetics continuously monitor blood glucose
17 October 2007 A postgraduate student at Kalmar University in Sweden
has designed biosensors that monitor the concentration of sugars in fluids.
Henrik Engström has designed biosensors for metering the concentration of,
among other things, maltose in oat beverages. These sensors could be further
developed to monitor blood sugar in diabetics. Biosensors can monitor
rapid changes in concentrations of sugars if the interaction with the
biological molecule in the sensor is fast enough. Henrik Engström studied
interactions that are faster than those used with other instruments, which
opens the possibility of continuously monitoring changes in sugar
concentration. “By designing various biosensors, I have studied antibodies
with the ability to interact and bind various types of sugar,” says Henrik
Engtröm. “I focused on developing biosensors that can register changes in
the concentration of maltose. Maltose is used in the brewery business and
other parts of the foodstuffs industry. It’s the main sweetener in oat
beverages.” The research focused on biosensors for determining the
concentration of various types of sugar, using antibodies and fluorescence
technology. These biosensors can continuously monitor changes in
concentration because the antibodies interact with the sugars, thereby
providing the biosensors with direct measurement data. Biosensors based on
antibodies have the capacity to be adapted for internal use, for example,
placement under the skin, and together with fluorescence technology it is
possible to read the measurement data from the sensor through the skin.
“Together with the industry we have evaluated a type of antibody that shows
potential for future blood-sugar analyses in diabetics,” says Henrik
Engström. “Today there is a need among diabetics not to have to prick their
fingers to check their blood sugar but rather to monitor the concentration
with the aid of a sensor that does not require blood samples. Research in
this field has the potential to considerably improve the situation,
enhancing the quality of life for diabetics.” To top
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