Glucose-binding bis-boronic acid hydrogel (BBA hydrogel)

The glucose-binding bis-boronic acid hydrogel is the core sensing component of the Eversense continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system. It is a synthetic material designed to provide long-term, real-time monitoring of interstitial glucose levels in patients with diabetes mellitus (Klonoff et al., 2019). Unlike traditional CGM sensors that rely on the glucose oxidase enzyme, this system utilizes the reversible chemical affinity between glucose and boronic acid moieties. When glucose binds to the bis-boronic acid sites within the hydrogel, it induces a change in the local environment of a co-polymerized fluorescent indicator, resulting in a signal proportional to the glucose concentration (Senseonics, 2023). This non-enzymatic approach allows the sensor to remain stable and functional for up to 180 days post-implantation. While it is not a therapeutic target for drugs, its accuracy is vital for insulin dosing and glycemic control. The hydrogel is encapsulated within a biocompatible sheath to minimize the inflammatory response while allowing glucose to diffuse freely (FDA, 2018).

Other names

Eversense glucose-sensing polymerBoronic acid-functionalized hydrogelPhenylboronic acid-based glucose sensorGlucose-responsive fluorescent hydrogelDibenzoborole-based sensing system

The sensor utilizes a fluorescent glucose-indicating polymer where glucose molecules reversibly bind to bis-boronic acid functional groups. This binding event modulates the fluorescence intensity of an integrated fluorophore, which is then measured by the sensor's internal electronics to determine interstitial glucose concentrations (Mortellaro & DeHennis, 2014).