Silicone Comb-Copolymer Membrane for Glucose Sensor Oxygen Diffusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing glucose sensors face challenges in achieving high sensitivity due to low oxygen concentrations in the body, which limits the diffusion of oxygen and affects the stability and performance of enzyme biosensors, particularly in maintaining oxygen excess at the reaction surface.
Innovation Solution
The development of a silicone-based comb-like copolymer membrane with high oxygen permeability and controlled glucose permeability, incorporating hydrophilic materials as side chains or in the main chain, to create a polymeric membrane that enhances oxygen and glucose diffusion while maintaining mechanical stability for in vivo use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a porous membrane from a fully oxygen permeable material is used, then oxygen diffusion is improved, but enzyme inactivation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a membrane with heterogeneous structure containing hydrophobic regions (for oxygen permeability) and hydrophilic regions (for enzyme protection). Specifically, the membrane incorporates PEG-containing hydrophilic materials in a silicone matrix, creating localized hydrophilic zones that protect the enzyme from inactivation while maintaining overall high oxygen permeability through the hydrophobic silicone framework.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining silicone (providing high oxygen permeability) with PEG-containing hydrophilic materials (providing enzyme protection and controlled glucose permeability). This composite structure allows the membrane to simultaneously achieve high oxygen diffusion, enzyme stability, and controlled analyte permeability, resolving the contradiction between oxygen permeability and enzyme stability.
2Reliability
If homogenous polymer membrane with hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions is used, then enzyme protection is improved, but oxygen and glucose permeability control is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enhances local quality by creating distinct hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions within the membrane structure. The hydrophobic silicone matrix provides high oxygen permeability, while embedded hydrophilic PEG-containing regions provide controlled glucose permeability and enzyme protection. This localized functional differentiation allows independent optimization of oxygen and glucose permeability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the membrane composition to include specific ratios of hydrophobic silicone to hydrophilic PEG-containing materials. By adjusting the concentration and distribution of hydrophilic components, the patent optimizes both oxygen and glucose permeability parameters independently, achieving enhanced productivity through controlled permeability.
3Speed
If silicone is used as membrane material, then oxygen permeability is maximized, but glucose permeability becomes zero
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by introducing localized hydrophilic regions within the hydrophobic silicone matrix. These local hydrophilic zones, formed by PEG-containing materials, create specific pathways for glucose diffusion while the bulk hydrophobic silicone maintains high oxygen permeability. This local quality modification allows selective permeability for different analytes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining silicone (for oxygen permeability) with PEG-containing hydrophilic materials (for glucose permeability). This composite structure creates a dual-function membrane where the hydrophobic silicone phase maximizes oxygen diffusion while the hydrophilic PEG phase enables controlled glucose permeability, resolving the contradiction between oxygen and glucose transport.
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 allows for improved in-vivo performance of glucose sensors by optimizing oxygen and glucose permeability, ensuring stable and sensitive enzyme biosensor operation by limiting diffusion to the analyte of interest, thereby enhancing the signal-to-noise ratio and analytical accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
a silicone-based comb-like copolymer membrane with high oxygen permeability and controlled glucose permeability, incorporating hydrophilic materials as side chains or in the main chain, to create a polymeric membrane that enhances oxygen and glucose diffusion
Implementation Method 2
an analyte modulating layer disposed on the analyte sensing layer, wherein the analyte modulating layer modulates the diffusion of the analyte therethrough
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the invention provide analyte sensors having elements designed to modulate their chemical reactions as well as methods for making and using such sensors. In certain embodiments of the invention, the sensor includes a hydrophilic comb-copolymer having a central chain and a plurality of side chains coupled to the central chain, wherein at least one side chain comprises a silicone moiety.