Flexible microneedle sensor for rapid and highly sensitive detection of glucose inspired by the ultrafast water absorption property of stalks

As the number of people with diabetes continues to increase, the use of high-performing blood glucose testing devices for blood glucose management is critical. Therefore, a flexible micronedle sensor (MNs sensor) based on flexible micronedle array structure (MNs array) is proposed in this study, inspired by the ultra-fast water absorption characteristics of straw, which can be used to quickly, conveniently and noninvasculatively detect glucose concentration in human interstitium fluid (ISF). The MNs sensor is the composite of flexible MNs array and highly sensitive detection electrode. The MNs sensor has excellent mechanical properties, the maximum pressure is 69.2 N (4 times the average), the compressive strength is 88.13 MPa (1.88 times the average), and the fracture compression ratio is 194.7 %(3.36 times the average). These properties enable MN sensors to penetrate the stratum corneum in complete form while extracting ISF quickly and consistently. Meanwhile, the MN sensor has the highly sensitivity (1826.75nA mM −1 cm −2 , 4.72 times the average value). It has a wider detection range (1 mM-30 mM) and faster detection (30 s) than existing MN glucose detectors. In addition, the MN sensor has excellent anti-interference performance and can accurately detect glucose concentration in the case of multiple disturbances. This work lays a foundation for the development of a new painless, real-time monitoring and high accuracy blood glucose detection system.