Biostable Glucose Permeable Polymer for Implantable Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for biocompatible, non-biodegradable polymeric materials for glucose sensors that provide physical and biological stability, processibility, and can be synthesized in reasonable quantities and at reasonable prices, while maintaining long-term stability and accuracy in the presence of proteins and medications.
Innovation Solution
A biostable glucose permeable polymer is developed by combining an isocyanate with polypropylene glycol-block-polyethylene glycol-block-polypropylene glycol and terephthalate, which forms a tubular housing for glucose sensors, allowing glucose to diffuse through while maintaining structural integrity and stability, even in challenging biological environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If biocompatible polymeric materials are used for glucose sensors, then biological stability is improved, but long-term stability and accuracy may be compromised by degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite polymeric material comprising hydrophilic polyurethane and polyethylene glycol (PEG) segments. The polyurethane provides structural integrity and biocompatibility, while the PEG segments confer hydrophilicity and resistance to protein adsorption. This composite structure resolves the contradiction by combining materials with complementary properties to achieve both biological stability and long-term operational stability without degradation.
2Stability of the object's composition
If non-biodegradable polymeric materials are used, then physical stability is improved, but processibility and manufacturing may be difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical parameters of the polymeric material by incorporating PEG segments with specific molecular weights (e.g., PEG 400, PEG 1000) and controlling the ratio of hydrophilic to hydrophobic components. These parameter changes enhance processibility by improving solvent compatibility and processing characteristics while maintaining the non-biodegradable nature and physical stability required for implantable sensors.
3Measurement precision
If glucose permeability is increased, then glucose monitoring accuracy is improved, but sensor stability may be compromised by interference from proteins and medications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces PEG segments as an intermediary layer within the polymeric material. This PEG-rich phase acts as a mediator that selectively facilitates glucose transport through the membrane while simultaneously providing steric and hydrophilic barriers that prevent adsorption and interference from proteins and medications. The intermediary PEG phase thus decouples glucose permeability from interference susceptibility, allowing high glucose monitoring accuracy while maintaining sensor stability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The polymer composition ensures long-term sensor stability with minimal weight loss and maintains glucose permeability, enabling continuous and accurate glucose monitoring without degrading or being compromised by proteins and medications, thus addressing the challenges of existing glucose sensors.
Implementation Method 1
biostable glucose permeable polymer... allowing glucose to diffuse through
Implementation Method 2
does not undergo hydrolytic cleavage and degradation in vivo
Data Source
AI summary
A new biostable glucose permeable polymer has been developed which is useful, for example, in implantable glucose sensors. This biostable glucose permeable polymer has a number of advantageous characteristics and, for example, does not undergo hydrolytic cleavage and degradation, thereby providing a composition that facilitates long term sensor stability in vivo. The versatile characteristics of this polymer allow it to be used in a variety of contexts, for example to form the body of an implantable glucose sensor. The invention includes the polymer composition, sensor systems formed from this polymer composition, and methods for making and using such sensor systems.