In the relentless pursuit of advanced glucose monitoring technologies, a team of researchers led by Akanksha Shrivastav from the Applied Science Cluster at the School of Advance Engineering (SOAE), UPES, Dehradun, India, has made a significant stride. Their work, published in the journal ‘ECS Sensors Plus’ (which translates to ‘Electrochemical Society Sensors Plus’), introduces a novel enzyme-based electrochemical biosensor that could revolutionize diabetes management.
The team’s innovation lies in the use of two-dimensional Vanadium MXene (V2CTx) to modify disposable screen-printed electrodes. This modification enhances the interlayer distance, providing improved stability, biocompatibility, and signal amplification. The result is a biosensor with remarkable sensitivity, boasting a limit of detection (LoD) of 0.294 nM and a limit of quantification (LoQ) of 0.893 nM for hypoglycaemic concentration, and an LoD of 0.0017 mM and LoQ of 0.005 mM for hyperglycaemic concentration.
“This development is a game-changer in the field of glucose sensing,” says Shrivastav. “The enhanced sensitivity and stability of our biosensor open up new possibilities for accurate and real-time glucose monitoring, which is crucial for effective diabetes management.”
The biosensor’s extended shelf life of over a month and robust stability make it an ideal candidate for point-of-care (PoC) settings. This could significantly impact the energy sector, particularly in the development of portable and wearable devices for continuous glucose monitoring. The ability to detect glucose levels with high precision in both hypo- and hyperglycaemic ranges addresses a critical need in the market, offering potential for better medical diagnosis and treatment.
The research team employed a range of characterization techniques, including X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infra-Red spectroscopy (FTIR), Field Emission-Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), Raman spectroscopy, BET and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) and Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) were used to assess the effectiveness of the glucose monitoring device and confirm the successful immobilization of Glucose Oxidase (GOx).
“This work not only advances the field of electrochemical sensing but also underscores the potential of MXene materials in biosensor development,” adds Shrivastav. The implications of this research extend beyond diabetes management, offering insights into the development of other enzyme-based biosensors for various applications.
As the world continues to grapple with the challenges of diabetes and other metabolic disorders, innovations like this biosensor bring hope for better management and treatment. The commercial potential is substantial, with opportunities for collaboration between academia and industry to bring this technology to market. The future of glucose monitoring is here, and it’s looking brighter than ever.