New York (Reuters Health) - Diabetics could let them have to prick their fingers several times per day to the blood glucose levels if a team achieves with its discovery.
The Sylvia Dauner team of the University of Miami, publishes in ACS Chemical Biology significant advances in the development of sensors that continuously control the blood sugar levels without using blood samples.The results could even be visualized on a mobile device as a cell phone.
"There are no devices capable of controlling continuous glucose for prolonged periods. The sensible peptides (to the glucose) that we design will allow us to achieve continuous consciousness," Dauner said by e-mail.
With his team he modified a protein so that glucose could be united with the ability to emit a signal in each union: its fluorescence weakens and the protein darkens.
That signal, which is the intensity of fluorescence, "it is possible to evaluate with a portable meter and the result can be wiselyKing's College Delondres medicine and did not participate in the study.
Today, diabetics can use insulin pumps that administer to the pre -established dose organisms of insulinamed subcutaneous catheters.But those devices still do not have the ability to control blood sugar.
Dauner anticipates the development of catheters implantable sensible to the variations of the proteins that are binding to laglucosa.These sensors could connect to the insulin pump to adjust the dose release automatically.
When could these devices be available?They still have obstacles to overcome and there are no development methods that could be incorporated into a commercial device.But researchers are optimistic.
"First, we need in vivo studies with animals and, then, human beings to obtain approval (of the United States food and medication administration). It could say that five years would have to wait for biosensors with catheters to be in the market,"Dauner said.
"Whatever the method used for protein engineering, new studies on GBP as a swallowing sensor provide new encouraging opportunities for glucose by glucose by fluorescence in diabetes," said Pickup.
Dauner offers more information about its "design protein" in a YouTube video ( Link
Source: ACS Chemical Biology, May 19, 2014.