Graphene foam and boronic acid combine for accurate glucose sensor

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Researchers have developed a sensing technique based on graphene foam for the detection of glucose levels in the blood, an advance that could help people living with diabetes to better manage their condition.  

Diabetes affects around 4.9 million people in the UK and is a chronic condition where the patient cannot naturally regulate their blood sugar levels. This means that people with diabetes must measure their blood sugar levels several times a day as part of condition management.  

Many current biosensors use enzymes that bind glucose and produce an electric current proportional to the concentration of glucose in the blood sample.

The new technique developed by scientists at Bath University and Integrated Graphene uses a chemical sensor, which is said to be more robust and is not affected by high temperatures or changes in pH. It also has the potential to accurately detect a wider range of glucose concentrations above and below current biosensor ranges, which may be useful in neonatal glucose sensing.

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According to Bath, the new sensor is based on boronic acid, which is attached to a graphene foam surface. An electroactive polymer layer is added on top and binds to the boronic acid. When glucose is present, it competitively binds to the boronic acid, displacing the polymer.

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