A dual-microneedle system for integrated continuous glucose monitoring and feedback insulin delivery.
Zhao Kangxun K, Niu Yangguang Y, Cao Xiaoping X, Ma Tianqi T et al.
Effective precision diabetes management requires seamless integration of continuous glucose monitoring and therapeutic intervention. In this study, we present a novel dual-microneedle regulatory system, which combines a biosensing microneedle for real-time interstitial glucose monitoring and a therapeutic microneedle for precise transdermal insulin delivery. The biosensing microneedle utilizes glucose oxidase-functionalized electrodes for continuous glucose sensing (demonstrating a broad linear range of 1-34 mM and a limit of detection of 0.4 mM), while the therapeutic microneedle employs electroosmotic flow to regulate insulin infusion through hollow channels under a constant 5 V voltage. This integrated system was demonstrated to provide accurate glycemic control in diabetic Wistar rat models (achieving a 55 % blood glucose reduction within 144 min and demonstrating high clinical accuracy with 88 % of points in Zone A of the Clarke Error Grid), successfully merging continuous glucose monitoring with on-demand insulin delivery. The proposed system demonstrates a solid proof-of-concept for physically segregated closed-loop regulation, paving the way for the development of miniaturized, wearable artificial pancreas platforms for more effective diabetes management.