Work

A micro-organ based microfluidic biosensor for continuous monitoring of glucose levels in vivo

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Current approaches to detect analytes use biomolecules or single cells and thus do not harness the computational power of endogenous algorithms present in micro-organs. Consequently, current on-line detection of glucose does not allow an autonomous artificial pancreas. In contrast, monitoring a few electrogenic pancreatic islets may provide a more appropriate read-out. Indeed, upon stimulation islets react with so-called slow potentials (SP) and their amplitude reflects the degree of intercellular coupling. We have now developed a microfluidic microelectrode chip containing a few islets and linked to interstitial fluids in live rats by microdialysis. Blood and dialysate glucose were determined concomitantly with ex-vivo islet electrical activity during an intraperitoneal glucose or insulin challenge. Blood glucose was tightly correlated to islet SP frequency, and to a lesser degree to SP amplitudes. This demonstrates the feasibility and usefulness of microorgan-based biosensors which may also be of interest in the therapy of diabetes.

Source: npj Biosensing

DOI: 10.1038/s44328-025-00077-4