A Graphene-based Electrochemical Device with Thermoresponsive Microneedles for Diabetes Monitoring and Therapy

Overview

Journal Nat Nanotechnol

Specialty Biotechnology

Date 2016 Mar 22

PMID 26999482

Citations 303

Authors

Hyunjae Lee

Tae Kyu Choi

Young Bum Lee

Hye Rim Cho

Roozbeh Ghaffari

Liu Wang

Hyung Jin Choi

Taek Dong Chung

Nanshu Lu

Taeghwan Hyeon

Seung Hong Choi

Dae-Hyeong Kim

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Owing to its high carrier mobility, conductivity, flexibility and optical transparency, graphene is a versatile material in micro- and macroelectronics. However, the low density of electrochemically active defects in graphene synthesized by chemical vapour deposition limits its application in biosensing. Here, we show that graphene doped with gold and combined with a gold mesh has improved electrochemical activity over bare graphene, sufficient to form a wearable patch for sweat-based diabetes monitoring and feedback therapy. The stretchable device features a serpentine bilayer of gold mesh and gold-doped graphene that forms an efficient electrochemical interface for the stable transfer of electrical signals. The patch consists of a heater, temperature, humidity, glucose and pH sensors and polymeric microneedles that can be thermally activated to deliver drugs transcutaneously. We show that the patch can be thermally actuated to deliver Metformin and reduce blood glucose levels in diabetic mice.

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