Closed-Loop Bioelectronic Artificial Pancreas Patch for Continuous Monitoring and Regulation of Blood Glucose in Diabetic Rats and Pigs

Abstract

Integrated artificial pancreas devices with continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and closed-loop insulin delivery are crucial for diabetes management. However, design challenges remain, including miniaturization, low cost, stability, and low power consumption. Current commercial products are expensive ($3,000 to $8,000 USD), and bulky, typically exceeding 100 cm3. Here, a closed-loop bioelectronic artificial pancreas patch is presented for continuous blood glucose regulation in diabetic rats and pigs. By designing transiently dissolvable microneedle arrays incorporated with microtube arrays, insulin is efficiently delivered into interstitial fluid, eliminating the need for an external long needle. Leveraging multi-layer sensing electrodes, Ag/Ag2O glass-fiber pumping electrodes, and a polyethylene-glycol (PEG) functionalized polycarbonate membrane, the closed-loop artificial pancreas patch demonstrates highly stable sensing and pumping with low power consumption (only 0.422 mW), enabling long-term continuous operation to regulate blood glucose. In particular, diabetic pigs are operated on for 3 consecutive days, showing steady blood glucose control with a time in range (3.9–10.0 mm) of ≈67.98%, comparable to a commercial closed-loop system at ≈74.95%. The total volume of the entire system is ≈2 cm3, and the cost is ≈$10. This method opens up promising avenues for the development and application of wearable devices to manage diabetes.