First-generation glucose biosensors relied on the use of the natural oxygen cosubstrate and the production and detection of hydrogen peroxide and were much simpler, especially when miniaturized sensors are concerned. More sophisticated bioelectronic systems for enhancing the electrical response, based on patterned monolayer or multilayer assemblies and organized enzyme networks on solid electrodes, have been developed for contacting GOx with the electrode support. Electrochemical biosensors are well suited for satisfying the needs of personal (home) glucose testing, and the majority of personal blood glucose meters are based on disposable (screen-printed) enzyme electrode test strips, which are mass produced by the thick film (screen-printing) microfabrication technology. In the counter and an additional “baseline” working electrode, various membranes (mesh) are incorporated into the test strips along with surfactants, to provide a uniform sample coverage. Such devices offer considerable promise for obtaining the desired clinical information in a simpler, user-friendly, faster, and cheaper manner compared to traditional assays. Continuous ex-vivo monitoring of blood glucose was proposed in 1974 and the majority of glucose sensors used for in-vivo applications are based on the GOx-catalyzed oxidation of glucose by oxygen. The major factors that play a role in the development of clinically accurate in-vivo glucose sensors include issues related to biocompatibility, miniaturization, long-term stability of the enzyme and transducer, oxygen deficit, short stabilization times, in-vivo calibration, baseline drift, safety, and convenience.

Electrochemical Glucose Biosensors

A nonlinear model predictive controller has been developed to maintain normoglycemia in subjects with type 1 diabetes during fasting conditions such as during overnight fast. The controller employs a compartment model, which represents the glucoregulatory system and includes submodels representing absorption of subcutaneously administered short-acting insulin Lispro and gut absorption. The controller uses Bayesian parameter estimation to determine time-varying model parameters. Moving target trajectory facilitates slow, controlled normalization of elevated glucose levels and faster normalization of low glucose values. The predictive capabilities of the model have been evaluated using data from 15 clinical experiments in subjects with type 1 diabetes. The experiments employed intravenous glucose sampling (every 15 min) and subcutaneous infusion of insulin Lispro by insulin pump (modified also every 15 min). The model gave glucose predictions with a mean square error proportionally related to the prediction horizon with the value of 0.2 mmol L(-1) per 15 min. The assessment of clinical utility of model-based glucose predictions using Clarke error grid analysis gave 95% of values in zone A and the remaining 5% of values in zone B for glucose predictions up to 60 min (n = 1674). In conclusion, adaptive nonlinear model predictive control is promising for the control of glucose concentration during fasting conditions in subjects with type 1 diabetes.

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Nonlinear model predictive control of glucose concentration in subjects with type 1 diabetes

Blood glucose monitoring has been established as a valuable tool in the management of diabetes. Since maintaining normal blood glucose levels is recommended, a series of suitable glucose biosensors have been developed. During the last 50 years, glucose biosensor technology including point-of-care devices, continuous glucose monitoring systems and noninvasive glucose monitoring systems has been significantly improved. However, there continues to be several challenges related to the achievement of accurate and reliable glucose monitoring. Further technical improvements in glucose biosensors, standardization of the analytical goals for their performance, and continuously assessing and training lay users are required. This article reviews the brief history, basic principles, analytical performance, and the present status of glucose biosensors in the clinical practice.

Glucose biosensors: an overview of use in clinical practice

Arguably, a minimally invasive system using subcutaneous (s.c.) continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and s.c. insulin delivery via insulin pump would be a most feasible step to closed-loop control in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Consequently, diabetes technology is focusing on developing an artificial pancreas using control algorithms to link CGM with s.c. insulin delivery. The future development of the artificial pancreas will be greatly accelerated by employing mathematical modeling and computer simulation. Realistic computer simulation is capable of providing invaluable information about the safety and the limitations of closed-loop control algorithms, guiding clinical studies, and out-ruling ineffective control scenarios in a cost-effective manner. Thus computer simulation testing of closed-loop control algorithms is regarded as a prerequisite to clinical trials of the artificial pancreas. In this paper, we present a system for in silico testing of control algorithms that has three principal components: (1) a large cohort of n = 300 simulated “subjects” (n = 100 adults, 100 adolescents, and 100 children) based on real individuals’ data and spanning the observed variability of key metabolic parameters in the general population of people with T1DM; (2) a simulator of CGM sensor errors representative of Freestyle Navigator™, Guardian RT, or Dexcom™ STS™, 7-day sensor; and (3) a simulator of discrete s.c. insulin delivery via OmniPod Insulin Management System or Deltec Cozmo ® insulin pump. The system has been shown to represent adequate glucose fluctuations in T1DM observed during meal challenges, and has been accepted by the Food and Drug Administration as a substitute to animal trials in the preclinical testing of closed-loop control strategies.

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In Silico Preclinical Trials: A Proof of Concept in Closed-Loop Control of Type 1 Diabetes

Forty years have passed since Clark and Lyons proposed the concept of glucose enzyme electrodes. Excellent economic prospects and fascinating potential for basic research have led to many sensor designs and detection principles for the biosensing of glucose. Indeed, the entire field of biosensors can trace its origin to this glucose enzyme electrode. This review examines the history of electrochemical glucose biosensors, discusses their current status and assesses future prospects in connection primarily to the control and management of diabetes.

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Glucose Biosensors: 40 Years of Advances and Challenges

In order to regulate the blood sugar in the intact depancreatized dog as precisely as that accomplished by its normal pancreas, specific equipment has been devised to deliver insulin or glucose continuously and establish normoglycemia both in the fasting and glucose-loaded states. A minicomputer was programmed to respond to the constantly monitored whole blood glucose by injecting appropriate insulin or glucose intravenously to maintain or restore the normal blood sugar. Standardized glucose challenges consisting of uniform infusions of 10 mg. glucose per kg. min. for sixty minutes were applied to assess the performance of the artificial pancreas. Direct control which relates insulin dosage to the level of the circulating blood sugar results in a response to the challenge resembling mild maturity-onset diabetes both in the abnormally high blood sugar response to glucose loading and in the large amount of insulin required to effect a return to normoglycemia. In contrast, control based on projected (predicted) values of blood sugar not only prevents the abnormal rise but consumes in some cases only 10 per cent of the insulin used for the same glucose load. The performance of the system parallels that of the normal pancreas and lends support to the hypothesis that biphasic insulin responses to glucose challenges are essential for the economy of insulin and the precision of regulation seen in healthy subjects.

An Artificial Endocrine Pancreas

An artificial pancreas capable of maintaining blood sugar homeostasis within the physiological range is described in this paper. The blood sugar is continuously monitored and then interpreted by a minicomputer which in turn controls and implements the delivery of insulin (or glucose). The entire system is automatic and by giving insulin according to a projected blood sugar level the pattern of insulin administration is similar to the biphasic response of the normal pancreas. Five parameters for control can be selected and altered at will so that any level of normoglycemia can be maintained. Hypoglycemia is not encountered, and none of the patients experienced any side effects during or after the trials. The clinical trials involved a two-day study. On the first day the blood sugar profiles were monitored throughout the day. The patients were given their usual doses of subcutaneous insulin and ate measured meals and snacks. On the second day, they received no subcutaneous insulin; insulin was administered intravenously in accordance with the moment-to-moment requirements of the patients who were given meals the same as those of the previous day. Graphs plotted on a common time scale compare the blood sugar patterns on the two successive days and show the significant improvement in blood sugar homeostasis achieved by this artificial pancreas.

T G Ewart

Papers

An Artificial Endocrine Pancreas

Clinical Control of Diabetes by the Artificial Pancreas

A Computer Analog of the Endocrine Pancreas