Fluorescent Host Cell Sensors for Glucose and Insulin
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current glucose and insulin measurement technologies are inaccurate, especially for lower glucose levels, and are costly, making them inefficient for frequent monitoring by diabetic patients.
Innovation Solution
Development of glucose and insulin sensors using host cells with DNA that produce fluorescence in response to glucose and insulin, allowing for accurate and cost-effective quantification of these levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If enzyme reaction methods are used to determine glucose levels, then measurement accuracy is improved, but cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the chemical enzyme reaction system with a biological sensor system that uses host cells expressing fluorescent proteins in response to glucose levels. This substitution eliminates the need for expensive enzyme-based test strips while maintaining measurement accuracy through fluorescent signal detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a biological copy of the glucose sensing function by engineering host cells to express fluorescent proteins that respond to glucose levels. Instead of using chemical enzymes, the system copies the sensing capability through genetically modified organisms that produce measurable fluorescent signals proportional to glucose concentration.
2Measurement precision
If enzyme reaction methods are used, then glucose levels can be measured, but sensitivity to lower glucose levels below 20 mg/dl is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the detection parameter from chemical reaction products to fluorescent signal intensity. By measuring fluorescence rather than chemical byproducts, the system achieves enhanced sensitivity that can detect glucose levels below 20 mg/dl, overcoming the detection limits of enzyme-based methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the chemical detection mechanism with a biological fluorescence-based detection system. This replacement enables detection of lower glucose concentrations through the amplified fluorescent signal from engineered host cells, providing both sensitivity and reliability at low glucose levels.
3Productivity
If frequent glucose monitoring is performed, then diabetes management is improved, but cumulative cost becomes prohibitive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs inexpensive host cells as disposable sensing units. Each test uses a new portion of host cells that can be prepared at low cost, eliminating the need for expensive reusable meters and test strips. This enables frequent monitoring without prohibitive cumulative costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the expensive mechanical enzyme-based testing system with a low-cost biological fluorescence system. The engineered host cells provide a cheaper alternative to commercial test strips, making frequent monitoring economically feasible for diabetic patients.
4Ease of operation
If current glucose meters are used, then glucose measurement is available, but compatibility issues and uncertain values occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses host cells that are genetically engineered with identical fluorescent protein expression systems, ensuring homogeneous response characteristics. This uniformity eliminates the compatibility issues and variability seen in commercial enzyme-based systems, providing consistent and reliable measurements across different tests and batches.
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 sensors provide sensitive and accurate measurements of glucose and insulin levels, including low glucose levels, are cost-effective, and can be used for simultaneous measurement, improving diabetes management and reducing patient costs.
Implementation Method 1
The sensors are composed of host cells such with DNA specifically designed to produce fluorescence when the cells come into contact with glucose and/or insulin in the sample
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein are glucose and insulin sensors. The sensors are composed of host cells with DNA specifically designed to produce fluorescence when the cells come into contact with glucose and/or insulin in the sample. Once the fluorescence has been quantified, it can be correlated with the amount of glucose and/or insulin present in the sample.