FabSense - A DIY Approach for Development of Electrochemical Sweat Glucose Sensor

Diabetes mellitus is one of the fastest growing chronic health conditions worldwide, projected to affect 643 million people by 2030. Despite 100 years since insulin's discovery, diabetes remains a leading cause of death globally, responsible for about 5 % of fatalities. Traditional invasive glucose monitoring methods, such as blood pricks and implantable sensors, face challenges like patient discomfort and frequent replacement due to biofouling. In this research, we propose a low-cost DIY (do-it-yourself) electrochemical sweat glucose sensor using a fabric-based three-electrode system. The sensor integrates the enzyme Glucose Oxidase (GOx) with commercially available conductive fabrics, allowing non-invasive glucose detection without complex laboratory infrastructure. Fabrication techniques using household devices like Cricut and steam irons were employed for their affordability and ease of use. The sensor's performance was validated through Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS). Differential Pulse Voltammetry (DPV) was used to detect glucose achieving a sensitivity of 0.16 μA μM-1. To evaluate the stability of the sensors, the prepared patch was subjected to repeated DPV measurements using a specific glucose concentration over a period of 48 hours. The Relative Standard Deviation (RSD) was calculated to be 2.59 %. Notably, sweat glucose levels have shown a significant correlation with blood glucose levels, enhancing the potential of our approach for diabetes management. This method demonstrates significant potential for advancing medical diagnostics and developing multifunctional, smart wearable devices.