BME Professor Narayan and his colleague Tanveer Tabish, a research fellow at the University College London Cancer Institute, have studied graphene-based biosensors, a calibration-free, non-invasive way to monitor glucose that does not rely on invasive blood sampling. For patients with diabetes, creating a non-invasive and long-lasting wearable sensor capable of monitoring blood glucose levels and perhaps even administering insulin based on its readings would replace the painful need for hypodermic needles.
Graphene is a unique 2D material made of a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a continuous hexagonal pattern. It is extremely thin, lightweight, and conducts electricity. In recent years, graphene has been used to monitor glucose in the skin both in ex vivo tissues and in an in vivo model over six hours. According to Prof Narayan, important questions still need to be answered before the successful translation of this technology into clinical settings. For instance, will the device report glucose levels efficiently when subjected to ambient temperatures and exercise? To read the full article, visit the Advanced Sciences website here.