Objective
In this proposed project, we will develop sensor system that is able to detect insulin concentration from patients in real time, with the goal of both improving diabetes treatment and research.
Background Rationale
There are many factors that affect blood glucose levels in people, including important hormones such as insulin and glucagon. The advent of continuous monitoring of blood glucose using patient operated meters has significantly improved disease management. However, the complexity of diabetes also includes how different hormones affect our body. For example, how effective insulin is can vary between patients as well as for each patient at different times. Thus, by measuring hormone information regularly in combination with glucose, we would gain both an improved understanding of glucose level management as well as information on disease progression over time.
Description of Project
Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) is a life-long condition where management can require constant vigilance from both the patient and their healthcare providers. In recent years, the advent of continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) has provided a much-needed source of data to help with the management of T1D. These devices measure blood sugar levels, allowing us to better understand the effects of daily events such as activity, meals and treatments, giving us real-time information to help them make better and in-time decisions. However, measuring just blood glucose does not explain the entire picture of the disease process. T1D is a complex condition that affects multiple organ systems. Decoding these complicated interactions will help us understand disease progression, improving both treatment decisions and the development of new therapeutics. As a first step, we aim to develop technology to measure insulin concentrations with a device similar to the CGM. To enable this, the Strano group has recently developed a special kind of sensor made from nano materials that can identify the insulin molecule and inform the user of its presence. The goal of this project is to incorporate these sensors into detection hardware, and make the proper improvements such the system can reliably detect insulin at concentrations within the patient. We will additionally work on testing various low-cost hardware sensor arrays to understand the best way to make this technology available to the largest number of patients.
Anticipated Outcome
Currently, insulin measurement is performed at the hospital using large laboratory equipment and highly specialized methods. Our goal is to eventually develop a patient facing device similar to CGMs currently on the market. With the real-time hormonal data collected, we can then develop algorithms to improve clinical decisions and their long-term outcomes.
Relevance to T1D
In Type 1 Diabetes, insulin replacement is a necessary aspect of disease treatment. By creating these insulin sensors, we will be able to better predict and anticipate the effect of different dosing strategies. These measurements will also provide insights into how insulin works in each patient, allowing us to eventually create models to understand and predict disease severity and progression over time.