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Motivation
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The detection and quantitative determination of biomolecules is a central task in modern biotechnology and medicine, for which smart solutions may be supplied by microelectronic technology. In particular, the continuous monitoring of blood sugar (glucose) in diabetics is a pressing issue, since the diabetes mellitus disease has taken pandemic-like dimensions and poses severe economic constraints to the public health system. The high costs are mainly due to diabetes-related complications, which in many cases root in an inadequate blood sugar adjustment. In consequence, persistent hyperglycaemic conditions often occur that can cause vascular damage and may lead to cardiac infarctions and apoplectic strokes. It would thus be highly desirable to dispose of a bloodless method for the quasi-continuous measurement of glucose that is compatible to the discontinuously operating methods widely used today.
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