Screen-Printable Hydrogel Biosensors for Reduced Blood Volume
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing glucose test strips require a substantial volume of blood for accurate measurement, leading to discomfort and inefficiency, and the time-consuming process of obtaining results can deter users from regular testing.
Innovation Solution
The use of screen-printable hydrophilic coatings based on zwitterionic surfactants and hydrophilic polymers, such as CHAPS, enhances sensitivity and wicking speed, improving the ratio of maximum current to background current, and incorporating hydrogels for increased accuracy and stability in analyte detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional test strips are used, then glucose measurement can be performed, but a relatively substantial volume of blood is required which causes user discomfort and pain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the chemical composition parameters of the test strip reagents and coating materials to enhance analyte sensitivity, allowing accurate measurement with smaller blood volumes. This includes optimizing enzyme concentrations, mediator ratios, and coating hydrophilicity to maximize signal generation from minimal sample input.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials by combining multiple functional layers including hydrophilic coatings, enzyme-containing reagent layers, and conductive materials on the test strip substrate. This multi-layer composite structure optimizes both sample utilization and signal detection efficiency, enabling accurate glucose measurement with reduced blood volume requirements.
2Loss of time
If conventional test strips are used, then glucose measurement can be obtained, but the measurement process takes a substantial amount of time which reduces user compliance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-coating the test strip with hydrophilic materials and pre-positioning reagent layers during manufacturing. This preparation ensures that when blood is applied, wicking and reaction processes begin immediately without delay, reducing the time from sample application to measurement completion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by optimizing the physical and chemical parameters of the test strip materials, including pore size distribution, hydrophilicity ratios, and reagent stability characteristics, to accelerate the wicking speed and reaction kinetics while maintaining measurement accuracy, thereby reducing overall test time.
3Speed
If ionic surfactants are used in hydrophilic coatings, then wicking speed is increased, but manufacturing complexity increases due to stability and dispersion requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the intermediary principle by introducing non-ionic co-surfactants as mediator substances that facilitate the stable dispersion and uniform distribution of ionic surfactants in the coating formulation. These co-surfactants act as intermediaries that prevent aggregation and enhance manufacturing processability while preserving the high wicking speed benefits of ionic surfactants.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials by formulating hydrophilic coatings that combine multiple surfactant types (ionic and non-ionic) with hydrophilic polymers in specific ratios. This composite formulation achieves synergistic effects where the combination provides both rapid wicking performance and manufacturing stability, simplifying the overall manufacturing process despite the complexity of individual components.
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
This solution reduces the blood volume required for testing, increases user compliance by minimizing discomfort, and accelerates measurement time, providing more accurate and extensive glucose concentration range detection.
Implementation Method 1
wicking speed is increased by virtue of the fact that these ionic surfactants are used. In one nonlimiting example, wicking speed is increased by 50% from several seconds down to 1 second.
Implementation Method 2
With only diffusion dependent current, the present invention can measure the current with higher accuracy if compared with the kinetic determined current.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus are provided for manufacturing an analyte detecting device. In one embodiment, the method comprises providing a substrate, applying a plurality of layer of materials on said substrate; applying a layer containing at least one mediator; and screen printing a hydrogel on the layer.