Electrochemical glucose biosensors - Electrochemical Sensors, Biosensors and Their Biomedical Applications - page 66

a clinically acceptable level of accuracy. An alarm capability is included to alert the
individual of very low or high glucose levels. Other routes for “collecting” the glucose
through the skin and for non-invasive glucose testing are currently being examined by
various groups and companies.
3.7 CONCLUSIONS AND OUTLOOK
Over the past 40 years we have witnessed a tremendous progress towards the develop-
ment of electrochemical glucose biosensors. Elegant research on new sensing concepts,
coupled with numerous technological innovations, has opened the door to widespread
applications of electrochemical glucose biosensors. Such devices account for nearly
85% of the world market of biosensors. Major advances have been made for enhanc-
ing the capabilities and improving the reliability of glucose measuring devices. Such
intensive activity has been attributed to tremendous economic prospects and fascinat-
ing research opportunities. The success of glucose blood meters has stimulated con-
siderable interest in in-vitro and in-vivo devices for monitoring other physiologically
important compounds. Despite a tremendous progress in glucose biosensors, there are
still many challenges related to the achievement of tight, stable, and reliable glycemic
monitoring. The development of new and improved glucose biosensors thus remains
the prime focus of many researchers.
As this fi eld enters the fi fth decade of intense research we expect signifi cant efforts
coupling fundamental sciences with technological advances. Such stretching of the
ingenuity of researchers will result in greatly improved electrical contact between the
redox center of GOx and electrode surfaces, enhanced “genetically engineered” GOx,
new “painless” in-vitro testing, artifi cial (biomimetic) receptors for glucose, advanced
biocompatible membrane materials, the coupling of minimally invasive monitoring
with a compact insulin delivery system, new innovative approaches for non-invasive
monitoring, and miniaturized long-term implants. These, and similar developments,
will greatly improve the control and management of diabetes.
3.8 REFERENCES
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2. J. Wang, Glucose biosensors: 40 yrs of advances and challenges. Electroanalysis 12 , 983-988 (2001).
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102 , 29-45 (1962).
4. L. Clark, Jr., US Patent 33, 539, 455 (1970).
5. S. Updike and G. Hicks, Enzyme electrode. Nature 214 , 986-988 (1967).
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Chim. Acta 64 , 439-455 (1973).
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