Smart Contact Lens for Colorimetric Visualization of Glucose Levels in the Body Fluid

Jeongin Seo, Jumi Kang, Jungwoo Kim, Hyeju Han, Minok Park, Mikyung Shin, Kyueui Lee

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    2 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    Frequent blood glucose monitoring is a crucial routine for diabetic patients. Traditional invasive methods can cause discomfort and pain and even pose a risk of infection. As a result, researchers have been exploring noninvasive techniques. However, a limited number of products have been developed for the market due to their high cost. In this study, we developed a low-cost, highly accessible, and noninvasive contact lens-based glucose monitoring system. We functionalized the surface of the contact lens with boronic acid, which has a strong but reversible binding affinity to glucose. To achieve facile conjugation of boronic acid, we utilized a functional coating layer called poly(tannic acid). The functionalized contact lens binds to glucose in body fluids (e.g., tear) and releases it when soaked in an enzymatic cocktail, allowing for the glucose level to be quantified through a colorimetric assay. Importantly, the transparency and oxygen permeability of the contact lens, which are crucial for practical use, were maintained after functionalization, and the lenses showed high biocompatibility. Based on the analysis of colorimetric data generated by the smartphone application and ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectra, we believe that this contact lens has a high potential to be used as a smart diagnostic tool for monitoring and managing blood glucose levels.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)4035-4045
    Number of pages11
    JournalACS Biomaterials Science and Engineering
    Volume10
    Issue number6
    DOIs
    StatePublished - 10 Jun 2024

    Keywords

    • colorimetric sensing
    • contact lens
    • glucose sensing
    • polytannic acid

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