Diabetes has become a chronic metabolic disorder, and the growing diabetes population\nmakes medical care more important. We investigated using a portable and noninvasive contact lens as\nan ideal sensor for diabetes patients whose tear fluid contains glucose. The key feature is the reversible\ncovalent interaction between boronic acid and glucose, which can provide a noninvasive glucose\nsensor for diabetes patients. We present a phenylboronic acid (PBA)-based HEMA contact lens that\nexhibits a reversible swelling/shrinking effect to change its thickness. The difference in thickness can\nbe detected in a picture taken with a smartphone and analyzed using software. Our novel technique\noffers the following capabilities: (i) non-enzymatic and continuous glucose detection with the contact\nlens; (ii) no need for an embedded circuit and power source for the glucose sensor; and (iii) the use\nof a smartphone to detect the change in thickness of the contact lens with no need for additional\nphoto-sensors. This technique is promising for a noninvasive measurement of the glucose level and\nsimple implementation of glucose sensing with a smartphone.
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