Diabetes mellitus is expected to effect over 366 million people by 2030. In recent years, treatment has become reliant on the development of self-testing glucometers. Glucose sensors which are highly sensitive and selective for glucose monitor blood sugar levels. 

Most glucose biosensors utilize the enzyme glucose oxidase. However, with the use of enzymes in the construction of these biosensors, there exist some disadvantages, mainly being that the enzyme’s activity can be seriously affected by pH, humidity, temperature and toxic chemicals.  There are also problems associated with the construction of enzymatic biosensors such as complicated immobilization procedures, poor reproducibility, chemical instability and high cost. 

Letterkenny Institute of Technology (LyIT) Bioanalytical Science Masters student, Wesley McCormick has a masters project to develop enzyme-free glucose sensors. This involves the development of nanomaterials to act as a substitute for the enzyme. Successful fabrication methods have the potential to provide a sensor with high electrocatalytic activity, good stability and low cost. This research project involves the use of nanotechnology to construct enzyme-free glucose sensors that have these advantages