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. 2011 Sep 1;5(5):1052-9.
doi: 10.1177/193229681100500505.

Glucose sensor membranes for mitigating the foreign body response

Ahyeon Koh  1 , Scott P Nichols, Mark H Schoenfisch
Affiliations

Glucose sensor membranes for mitigating the foreign body response

Ahyeon Koh et al. J Diabetes Sci Technol. .

Abstract

Continuous glucose monitoring devices remain limited in their duration of use due to difficulties presented by the foreign body response (FBR), which impairs sensor functionality immediately following implantation via biofouling and leukocyte infiltration. The FBR persists through the life of the implant, culminating with fibrous encapsulation and isolation from normal tissue. These issues have led researchers to develop strategies to mitigate the FBR and improve tissue integration. Studies have often focused on abating the FBR using various outer coatings, thereby changing the chemical or physical characteristics of the sensor surface. While such strategies have led to some success, they have failed to fully integrate the sensor into surrounding tissue. To further address biocompatibility, researchers have designed coatings capable of actively releasing biological agents (e.g., vascular endothelial growth factor, dexamethasone, and nitric oxide) to direct the FBR to induce tissue integration. Active release approaches have proven promising and, when combined with biocompatible coating materials, may ultimately improve the in vivo lifetime of subcutaneous glucose biosensors. This article focuses on strategies currently under development for mitigating the FBR.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Hematoxylin and eosin-stained tissue surrounding glucose sensors after 28 days for devices coated with either (A) epoxy-polyurethane or (B) a hydrogel synthesized from hydroxyethyl methacrylate, 2,3-dihydroxypropyl methacrylate, N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidinone, and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate. (Reproduced with modifications with the permission of Elsevier Ltd.)
Figure 2
Figure 2
In vivo tissue response at two weeks from noncoated polyethersulfone microdialysis probes, probes coated with a hydrogel, or hydrogel-coated probes that released DX, VEGF, or both. The FBR was evaluated via histology for (A) angiogenesis and (B) inflammation. GEL, hydrogel; PES, polyethersulfone. (Reproduced with modifications with the permission of John Wiley and Sons, Inc.)
Figure 3
Figure 3
(A) Daily NO release from implanted polyarylethersulfone microdialysis probes. (B) Relative glucose recovery from subcutaneously implanted NO-releasing (red) or control (black) polyarylethersulfone probes. (Reproduced with modifications with permission of the American Chemical Society.)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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