Nitric Oxide-Releasing Electrospun Polyurethane Coatings for Electrochemical Glucose Sensing (2015)
Undergraduates: Paige Kinsley, Robert Soto
Faculty Advisor: Mark Schoenfisch
Department: Chemistry
The foreign body response (FBR), the body¿¿¿s natural reaction to a foreign object, is a significant impediment to the accuracy and utility of implantable glucose sensors. My research involves fabricating porous electrospun fiber materials capable controlled nitric oxide (NO) release, a bioactive gas with central roles in wound healing and inflammation, for use as sensor coatings in an attempt to improve glucose sensor function. Initial experiments focused on optimizing the electrospinning process used to fabricate NO-releasing fibers, and demonstrating their compatibility with commercially-available glucose sensors. In addition, NO-releasing silica nanoparticles have been developed to achieve NO release from the fibers. In the future, the anticipated benefits to glucose sensor performance as a result of this chemical strategy will be evaluated in a physiologically-relevant animal model. The broad implications of this original research project may positively impact continuous glucose monitoring for individuals suffering from diabetes.