Glucose-Sensing Microchip
Taking the capabilities of RFID implantable microchips beyond simple identification, PositiveID received a patent in 2006 for an “Embedded Bio-Sensor System.” One potential application of this bio-sensor system is an implantable, bio-sensing RFID microchip that measures glucose levels in the body in real time.
In late 2007, PositiveID entered into an agreement with RECEPTORS LLC, an expert in the field of proteomics and the development of artificial receptors, to develop a prototype-level glucose sensor to use in conjunction with an implantable bio-sensing RFID microchip to measure glucose levels in the body. RECEPTORS has successfully completed Phase I of the project and Phase II development of the in vivo glucose-sensing microchip is underway.
In Phase I of its glucose development, RECEPTORS LLC successfully prepared prototype examples for both the glucose-selective binding environment and the glucose-competitive signaling component. These critical components were used to demonstrate the bench-top format application of the glucose-sensing system to the detection of glucose levels. This demonstration is the proof-of-concept foundation of the glucose-sensing system.
The goal of Phase II is to optimize the sensing system for its glucose response in the presence of blood and interstitial fluid matrix components and demonstrate the integration of the components into a stable and reproducible glucose sensor.
The companies believe their closed cycle glucose-sensing system will succeed where other in vivo glucose-sensing device development programs have failed due to several critical factors:
- the CARA™ and competitor agent components are being built from stable synthetic (versus biomolecule) building blocks;
- the closed-cycle sensing system will not require any external materials or reagents, this is a direct consequence of the companies' stable binding and competitor technology platforms;
- the closed-cycle sensing system has been designed around components that incorporate biocompatible functionality as an integral part of the sensing system, not as an afterthought or add-on; and
- the competitor agents have been designed to maximize mass change on glucose binding as a foundation for effective signal transduction and, as a consequence, operation of the electronics and the in vivo device.
PositiveID has received an exclusive license to RECEPTORS' Patent No. 7,504,364 titled "Methods of Making Arrays and Artificial Receptors" and Patent No. 7,469,076 "Sensors Employing Combinatorial Artificial Receptors," to use in conjunction with VeriChip's Patent No. 7,125,382 entitled "Embedded Bio-Sensor System," to develop the in vivo glucose-sensing RFID microchip.
The development partners published a white paper in December 2007 entitled, "Development of an Implantable Glucose Sensor.”
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