A wearable paper-based SGR/MCC microneedle array sensor for continuous glucose monitoring
6 affiliations
- 1Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, and Department of Electronic Engineering and Information Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- 2Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, and Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- 3Medical Imaging Center, School of Information Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- 4Medical Imaging Center, School of Information Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China. [email protected]
- 5Medical Imaging Center, School of Information Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China. [email protected]
- 6Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, and Department of Electronic Engineering and Information Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China. [email protected]
Abstract
Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) is a promising approach for managing blood glucose levels in individuals with diabetes. However, the emerging microneedle (MN) technologies for colorimetric or electrochemical detection of glucose in sampled dermal interstitial fluid (ISF) remain far from practical CGM due to many concerns. Herein, we propose a new disposable solid MN array on a flexible paper substrate, integrated with reusable electronics and a mobile application, for electrochemical glucose sensing in ISF. The paper substrate was prepared by infusing paper with UV-cured flexible gingiva mask resin, ensuring body comfort. The solid MN array was fabricated from a newly developed composite of UV-cured biocompatible surgical guide resin (SGR) and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), using a simple self-developed fabrication technique, ensuring safe skin interaction. The paper-based composite MN arrays were converted into conductive biosensing electrodes by coating them with graphene ink and additional functional modifiers via airbrushing, and subsequently integrated into a wearable patch for continuous ISF glucose monitoring. The resulting MN array electrodes exhibited excellent analytical performance in monitoring glucose of ex vivo porcine plasma, hydrogel-based artificial skin, and in vivo mice, with high sensitivity, selectivity against interferents, and robust stability. This study provides a simple, cost-effective, and eco-friendly path for the development of wearable electroanalytical devices toward practical CGM.
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BibTeX
@article{holman2026wearable,
title = {{A wearable paper-based SGR/MCC microneedle array sensor for continuous glucose monitoring}},
author = {Joseph Benjamin Holman and Talifhani Mushiana and C R Yang and Yue Jin and Zhengdi Shi and Bensheng Qiu and Chengpan Li and Weiping Ding},
journal = {Microsystems \& Nanoengineering},
year = {2026},
month = jun,
doi = {10.1038/s41378-026-01313-1},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41378-026-01313-1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - A wearable paper-based SGR/MCC microneedle array sensor for continuous glucose monitoring
AU - Joseph Benjamin Holman
AU - Talifhani Mushiana
AU - C R Yang
AU - Yue Jin
AU - Zhengdi Shi
AU - Bensheng Qiu
AU - Chengpan Li
AU - Weiping Ding
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/06/03
JO - Microsystems & Nanoengineering
DO - 10.1038/s41378-026-01313-1
UR - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41378-026-01313-1
AB - Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) is a promising approach for managing blood glucose levels in individuals with diabetes. However, the emerging microneedle (MN) technologies for colorimetric or electrochemical detection of glucose in sampled dermal interstitial fluid (ISF) remain far from practical CGM due to many concerns. Herein, we propose a new disposable solid MN array on a flexible paper substrate, integrated with reusable electronics and a mobile application, for electrochemical glucose sensing in ISF. The paper substrate was prepared by infusing paper with UV-cured flexible gingiva mask resin, ensuring body comfort. The solid MN array was fabricated from a newly developed composite of UV-cured biocompatible surgical guide resin (SGR) and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), using a simple self-developed fabrication technique, ensuring safe skin interaction. The paper-based composite MN arrays were converted into conductive biosensing electrodes by coating them with graphene ink and additional functional modifiers via airbrushing, and subsequently integrated into a wearable patch for continuous ISF glucose monitoring. The resulting MN array electrodes exhibited excellent analytical performance in monitoring glucose of ex vivo porcine plasma, hydrogel-based artificial skin, and in vivo mice, with high sensitivity, selectivity against interferents, and robust stability. This study provides a simple, cost-effective, and eco-friendly path for the development of wearable electroanalytical devices toward practical CGM.
SN - 2055-7434
SN - 2096-1030
ER -