Nanostructured Sensing Allows Glucose Sensing Contact Lens

Now, after conducting a completely novel study, the research group at the Oregon State University or OSU has introduced glucose sensors and contact lenses into a singular device that might someday do double jobs. It implies that such devices are expected to perform duo function like a control mechanism and a blood glucose supervisor for analysing when a patient is in need of insulin injections. According to these experts, the device would be in the form of a transparent sensor incorporated into contact lens.

The key to introducing an absolutely transparent sensor is a nanostructured effect of field transistor prepared from indium gallium zinc oxide, more interestingly referred to as an IGZOFET. Such so-called IGZO FETs possess a long history that dates back over decade and rest when Tokyo – based scientists first reported transistors prepared from IGZO in the year 2004. The ultimate agenda of such IGZO transistors is nothing else, but transparency, which the display manufacturers utilized to prepare LCD and OLED displays that utilize such transistors to operate their pixels.

Similar to this, even the latest research from OSU, the feature that attracted the research group to IFZO was its transparency. “We have completely transparent sensors that are functioning,” says Greg Herman, a professor from OSU of chemical engineering and also one of the members of the research team.

According to the details of their report, the OSU group structured the IGZO in a way that generated a compact – close hexagonal IGZO FET network. The innumerable patterning methods that were employed, comprising colloidal nanolithography and e-jet printing, headed the scientists to believe that the manufacturing of such FETs must be fairly done at low – prices.

In function, the source and the drain of the transistor showcase a reduction in conductance with enhancing concentrations of glucose. In estimations, the scientists confirmed that the nanostructured IGZO FETs are much more sensitive in analysing such transformations in glucose levels that the non – nanostructured IGZO.

“We can incorporate an assortment of sensors into the lens and also experiment for other items – stress hormones, pressure sensing for glaucoma, uric acid and other similar things, says Herman. We can supervise numerous compounds in tears and since it is a transparent sensor, it does not restrict vision – more real estate is available for sensing the contact lens.”

Conclusion

While the researchers at OSU have structured a sensor from a transparent material – IGZO, the glucose measuring is only single part of their long though goals. They also intend to deliver the precise amount of insulin on the basis of glucose readings. It will need the development of a pump that would function as a sort of artificial pancreas, as well as a communication unit that would transmit the glucose reading to the artificial pancreas.