Barrier Layer for Glucose Sensor

A glucose sensor for detecting and/or quantifying the amount of glucose comprising:

• a sensing region comprising a boronic acid receptor for binding to glucose and a fluorophore associated with the boronic acid receptor;
• an optical waveguide for directing light onto the sensing region;
• and
• a glucose-permeable barrier layer comprising a semi-permeable membrane comprising pores and a hydrophilic polymer within the pores of the semi-permeable membrane, the glucose-permeable barrier layer overlying at least a part of the sensing region;
• wherein the sensor is adapted so that glucose enters the sensing region of the sensor through the glucose-permeable barrier layer, and an ROS-quenching agent is present in the sensing region and/or the glucose-permeable barrier layer.

A method of manufacturing a glucose sensor for detecting and/or quantifying the amount of glucose comprising:

• a sensing region comprising a boronic acid receptor for binding to glucose and a fluorophore associated with the boronic acid receptor;
• an optical waveguide for directing light onto the sensing region;
• and
• a glucose-permeable barrier layer comprising a semi-permeable membrane comprising pores and a hydrophilic polymer within the pores of the semi-permeable membrane, the glucose-permeable barrier layer overlying at least a part of the sensing region;
• wherein the sensor is adapted so that glucose enters the sensing region of the sensor through the glucose-permeable barrier layer, and an ROS-quenching agent is present in the sensing region and/or the glucose-permeable barrier layer,
• wherein the method comprises
• providing a sensing region comprising a boronic acid receptor for binding to glucose and a fluorophore associated with said receptor;
• providing an optical waveguide for directing incident light onto the sensing region;
• and
• providing a glucose-permeable barrier layer comprising a semi-permeable membrane having pores and a hydrophilic polymer within the pores of the semi-permeable membrane, the glucose-permeable barrier overlying at least a part of the sensing region;
• wherein the sensor is adapted so that glucose enters the sensing region of the sensor through the glucose-permeable barrier layer, and an ROS-quenching agent is present in the sensing region and/or the glucose-permeable barrier layer.

A method of detecting and/or quantifying the amount of glucose in a sample, comprising inserting into the sample a glucose sensor, providing incident light to the sensing region of the sensor and detecting the emission pattern of the fluorophore;

• wherein the glucose sensor comprises:
• a sensing region comprising a boronic acid receptor for binding to glucose and a fluorophore associated with the boronic acid receptor;
• an optical waveguide for directing light onto the sensing region;
• and
• a glucose-permeable barrier layer comprising a semi-permeable membrane comprising pores and a hydrophilic polymer within the pores of the semi-permeable membrane, the glucose-permeable barrier layer overlying at least a part of the sensing region;
• wherein the sensor is adapted so that glucose enters the sensing region of the sensor through the glucose-permeable barrier layer, and an ROS-quenching agent is present in the sensing region and/or the glucose-permeable barrier layer.