Recent Advancements in Flexible Biosensors for Continuous Glucose Monitoring

Abstract

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems have significantly improved diabetes management by continuously monitoring glucose levels in real-time. However, the existing CGM devices, which use inflexible and invasive sensors, pose difficulties in user comfort and can lead to skin irritation. This review explores recent advancements in flexible CGM technologies, highlighting their potential to overcome these limitations. Flexible CGM sensors, utilizing biofluids like sweat, tears, and interstitial fluid, offer a minimally invasive and more comfortable alternative. Recent developments and innovations in materials and fabrication techniques have brought these sensors closer to commercialization, showing noteworthy progress in their design and functionality. We examine flexible CGM prototypes, including sweat-based epidermal sensors, tear-based smart contact lenses, and interstitial fluid-based microneedle sensors. The review concludes by discussing prospects, emphasizing the need for continued innovation and improved manufacturing processes to achieve successful commercialization.