Design Selection of a Fully-Implantable and Optically-Transduced Glucose Biosensor via Monte Carlo Modeling

摘要

Remote and continuous blood glucose monitoring is a highly researched topic due to the prevalence of diabetes. In addition to being the 7th leading cause of death, diabetes features high comorbidity rates involving chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and kidney disease. This is in part due to poor monitoring of blood glucose levels, especially amongst the medically underserved who lack regular physician access. Optical signal transduction via a fully implantable biosensor is a promising way to provide necessary disease monitoring due to potential for low cost, longer lifetime and lack of transcutaneous components. Such a sensor would enable administration through a syringe and thus allow other healthcare workers to administer the biosensor- expanding access. However, light transport through turbid media such as skin features many absorptive and scattering events that lower assay efficacy. One such way to increase signal is the inclusion of multiple sensing modalities and rational design selection. Here, we present design selection for a multi-modal and fully implantable glucose biosensor. First, three designs are postulated, then their fluorescence is simulated via Monte Carlo Modeling. The best performing design is then further improved upon by determining the number of needed repeating units as well as length. Overall, it was determined that a stacked cylinder design, 0.43cm in length with 0.036cm thick repeating units provides the best fluorescent signal. Future work should involve the experimental validation of this model, as well as the inclusion of the sensing modalities so that an exact response can be estimated.