Abstract
To prepare the long-life and stable subcutaneous tissue glucose monitoring system, newly designed biocompatible membrane, 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine -co-n-butyl methacrylate (MPC-co-BMA) membrane, has been developed and applied to the surface of a microdialysis hollow-fiber probe. 1) Transmission electron-microscopic examination of microdialysis cuprophan hollow-fiber probe covered with MPC membrane revealed no protein fixation at all for up to 7 days. 2) In healthy volunteers, the subcutaneous tissue glucose concentrations measured by this system were consistent with changes in blood glucose excursions for 7 days without any in vivo calibrations, and for 14 days by introducing in vivo calibrations. We therefore conclude that this miniaturized extracorporeal glucose monitoring system which combines a needle-type glucose sensor with a microdialysis hollow-fiber probe covered with MPC membrane is stable and reliable, as compared to a microdialysis hollow-fiber probe covered without MPC membrane. Therefore, this monitoring sytem can be applied for the self blood monitoring system and for the sensing system of wearable artificial endocrine pancreas in ambulatory diabetic patients for longer-periods.
