Temperature-Insensitive Copolymer Membrane for Biosensor Analyte Flux
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing analyte sensors face challenges in maintaining consistent analyte flux across membranes due to temperature variations, which complicates calibration and can lead to inaccurate readings.
Innovation Solution
The use of a highly permeable membrane composed of a copolymer of poly(N-vinylimidazole) and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) that is stable over a temperature range of 22° C to 42° C, reducing temperature-dependent analyte permeability variations and enhancing sensor sensitivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a membrane is used to improve biocompatibility and limit analyte flux, then sensor biocompatibility improves, but analyte permeability becomes highly temperature-dependent causing calibration complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the membrane material composition by incorporating a copolymer with specific temperature-independent properties that maintain stable analyte flux across temperature variations, eliminating the need for temperature-based calibration adjustments
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite membrane structure combining multiple polymer components including a copolymer of N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone and N-isopropylacrylamide, which together provide both biocompatibility and temperature-independent analyte flux characteristics
2Stability of the object's composition
If a membrane is used to improve biocompatibility, then sensor stability in vivo improves, but analyte flux variability as a function of temperature increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the membrane material by selecting specific copolymers with inherent temperature-compensating properties that maintain consistent analyte flux across the physiological temperature range
Solution Approach 2:
The copolymer membrane acts as an intermediary layer that mediates between the analyte and the sensor, providing a stable interface that filters out temperature variations while allowing analyte passage
3Measurement precision
If calibration equations are used to account for temperature effects, then measurement accuracy improves, but device complexity and operational difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potential harm of temperature variations into a benefit by designing a membrane that inherently compensates for temperature effects, turning what would require complex calibration into a simple, temperature-insensitive system
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates the temperature-dependent calibration requirement from the system by using a membrane material that naturally provides temperature-independent analyte flux
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 analyte sensor achieves a sensitivity of at least 100 nA/mM and exhibits reduced delamination, maintaining signal stability and accuracy over an extended period, even in the presence of temperature fluctuations.
Implementation Method 1
the membrane is permeable to an analyte
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides analyte sensors comprising a first working electrode, a sensing layer disposed upon a surface of the first working electrode, and a highly permeable membrane that overcoats at least a part of the sensing layer and that is permeable to an analyte, wherein the highly permeable membrane comprises a copolymer of poly(N-vinylimidazole) and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), and wherein the analyte sensor shows a sensitivity of at least 100 nA/mM to the analyte. The present disclosure also provides methods of using such analyte sensors for detecting one or more analytes preset in a biological sample and methods of manufacturing the analyte sensors.