University Times

A Pitt professor plans to make life less painful for diabetics with the help of an implanted biotechnological device the size of a half-inch piece of thread.

In a paper published in the Sept. 15 issue of Analytical Chemistry, Jerome Schultz, director of Pitt's Center for Biotechnology and Bioengineering and chairperson of the Department of Bioengineering, explained his glucose-monitoring sensor: "Once the thin plastic capsule is implanted just under the skin, diabetic patients can continuously monitor their glucose levels. Our method has the potential to provide continuous readings of glucose within about 3-5 minutes."

The sensor measures blood glucose levels by using fluorescent particles inside the half-inch long tubing. The particles are invisible until glucose levels in the blood change. If blood glucose levels rise a small amount, only a few fluorescent particles are exposed, but a large influx of glucose exposes many particles. A monitor with a special photometer on the surface of the skin measures the intensity of the light, which reflects the blood glucose concentration.

Schultz hopes to fit the monitor's components into a device the size of a watch, which would be worn directly above the implantation site. The device could potentially replace traditional finger-prick tests for 16 million diabetic Americans.