Developing
a miniaturized, low-cost, and smart closed-loop system
for diabetes could significantly improve life quality and benefit
millions of people. Conventional closed-loop devices are large in
size and exorbitant. Here, we unprecedentedly demonstrate an electrically
controlled flexible closed-loop patch for continuous diabetes management
by integrating hollow biodegradable microneedles with a biosensing
device and an electroosmotic pump. The hollow microneedles were fabricated
using a combination of soft lithography and micromachining. The outer
layer of the microneedles was functionalized to serve as a biosensing
device for the in situ sensitive and accurate monitoring of interstitial
glucose. The inner layer of the microneedles was integrated with a
flexible electroosmotic pump to deliver insulin, and the delivery
rate was electrically controlled by the glucose level from the biosensing
device. The closed-loop system successfully stabilized the blood glucose
levels of diabetic rats in a normal and safe range. The system is
painless, miniaturized, cost-effective, and flexible. It is anticipated
that it could open up exciting new avenues for fundamental studies
of new closed-loop devices as well as practical applications for diabetes
management.
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