Team develops next-generation wearable continuous glucose monitoring system for diabetes management

Leveraging rapid technological advances for human health is a global trend that is driving the growth of biomedical engineering research.

An interdisciplinary research team, including the Faculty of Engineering and Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong (HKU), Zhejiang University and Guangzhou Medical University, has developed a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system that represents a major advancement in wearable health technology and is set to revolutionise diabetes management.

Their research was published in Scientific progressentitled “Coin-sized, fully integrated, minimally invasive continuous glucose monitoring system based on organic electrochemical transistors.”

Led by Professor Shiming Zhang from HKU’s Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, the new CGM system, called OECT-CGM, features a compact, coin-sized design integrating cutting-edge biosensors, minimally invasive tools and hydrogels.

The heart of the device is the organic electrochemical transistor (OECT), a biochemical signal amplifier that significantly improves the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) compared to traditional electrochemical sensors. This advancement is essential to provide accurate and reliable glucose measurements, which are essential for effective diabetes management.

The OECT-CGM comprises a microneedle array for subcutaneous glucose sampling with minimal pain and discomfort, addressing one of the major drawbacks of existing CGM devices, which are considered invasive due to the need for a needle inserted under the skin, which can cause discomfort.

Additionally, a viscoelastic and diffusive hydrogel stabilizes the interface between the skin and the device, ensuring that the sensor remains secure and effective during use.

The integrated device’s OECTs achieve record sensitivity, a significant technical advancement for body-centered healthcare. Performance in rodent tests is comparable to commercial CGMs currently available on the market.

“This fully integrated portable device promises improved noise-canceling capability, reliability and portability compared with traditional CGMs,” Professor Zhang said.

The research team believes that their work will push the limits of current wearable biosensors, particularly in challenging and complex environments. For example, scenarios involving epidermal wearables in environments with significant motion artifacts and ambient noise.

Next steps will be to further refine the device and explore its potential applications in various healthcare settings.

“This groundbreaking work not only showcases the HKU team’s innovative capabilities, but also sets a new standard for wearable health monitoring technology. The team’s dedication to improving the quality of life of people with diabetes is evident in this remarkable achievement,” added Professor Zhang.

Other collaborators in this interdisciplinary research include Professor Aimin Xu from the Li Ka Shing School of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong, Professor Jinqiang Wang and Professor Zhen Gu from the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Zhejiang University, and Professor Jixiang Zhu from Guangzhou Medical University.