Microneedle-assisted interstitial fluid extraction combined with a 2D tellurene-based glucose sensor for personal diabetes management

Abstract

The objective of this work is to develop a selective glucose sensor for real-time in vivo monitoring of interstitial fluid (ISF) glucose levels, addressing challenges of interference from other biomolecules. A microneedle (MN) patch was employed for ISF extraction, while a 2D tellurene (Te)-based glucose oxidase (GOX) GOX/Te/carbon cloth (CC) electrode served as the sensing element for electrochemical measurements. The sensor exhibited a low detection limit (LOD) of 0.357 μM, and a sensitivity of 0.10378 mA μM⁻¹ cm⁻². In vivo studies in an animal model demonstrated an average glucose concentration of 5.05 mM with a rapid response time of ∼95 s. Importantly, the electrochemical measurements showed a strong correlation with commercial glucometer readings, confirming accuracy and reliability. This study highlights the potential of the proposed sensor for real-time in vivo glucose monitoring, paving the way for future home care diabetes management devices.