Description
There is an urgent need for accessible, affordable and accurate solutions for diabetes monitoring in low- and middle-income countries, where around 80% of the world's diabetics live. Continuous glucose monitoring devices are currently available on the market, but they are expensive and mostly accessible to patients with higher incomes. A reliable alternative is glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) measurement, which gives a more accurate picture of blood sugar fluctuations over time. The EXPEDIA project aims to develop an enzyme-based biohybrid for rapid and affordable quantification of HbA1c in blood samples. Although fructosylpeptide oxidase (FPOX) enzymes are promising for this application, they are currently unable to work with whole glycated proteins. This means that HbA1c has to be processed by proteolytic digestion and complex sample preparation, which only trained personnel can provide. Currently, there is no strip-based FPOX test available on the market. The project aims to develop new variants of FPOX enzymes with wider access channels capable of processing whole proteins and to create a sensor for a user-friendly diabetes self-monitoring device.
Achievable results
The project aims to develop new variants of FPOX enzymes with broader access channels capable of processing whole proteins and to create a sensor for a user-friendly diabetes self-monitoring device.
Benefit
A user-friendly diabetes self-monitoring device - potentially.
