Integrated Research Team (IRT) Meeting
“Nanotechnology Solutions for Long-term Implantable Devices”
October 23-25, 2007

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An Integrated Research Team (IRT) Meeting Glucose Detection:
Nanotechnology Solutions for Long-term implantable devices.

Purpose:
Long-term physiological monitoring has the potential to provide real time assessments of the health and performance capabilities of the soldier. Development of implantable biosensors remains problematic due to the lack of appropriate sensors, biomaterials and biocoatings. The emergence of nanotechnology, the capability to build materials at the nanoscale, holds the promise of constructing new biosensors, materials and coatings that can function effectively within the body. In an effort to explore these possibilities, TATRC has chosen to explore the possibilities for long-term implantable glucose sensors. This IRT is designed to investigate the current state-of-the-art in glucose biosensors and identify limitations of current technology. The IRT will examine four specific areas that are essential for the development of implantable glucose sensors;

1. The biosensors, their energy supplies and communication abilities.
2. The immunological manipulation of the body's host defenses,
3. The biomaterials necessary to encapsulate the sensor
4. The biocoatings that permit the interface between the sensor and the body's fluids.

By examining these four specific areas, the IRT will identify potential areas for research. The goal of this research is to advance the development of implantable devices.

Mission and Objectives:
The mission of this IRT is to develop a five year research and development roadmap, including estimates of funding requirements that addresses the current barriers to development of implantable biosensors. This IRT will focus on the following objectives:

1. Identification of glucose sensor technologies
a. Device fabrication and configuration
b. Power requirements and Energy supplies
c. Communications capabilities
d. Longevity
e. Regulatory Control including safety and efficacy

2. The current capabilities for immunological manipulation of the body's host defenses
a. Current understanding of immune responses to implanted materials
b. Immunomodulation
c. Pharmacologic manipulation
d. The use of nanotechnology to manipulate the immune response
e. OR staff - team work issues and impact of robotics

3. Biomaterials necessary to encapsulate the sensors
a. Currently available biomaterials and their limitations
b. Development of engineered biomaterials for encapsulation
c. Characterization of biomaterials and the host's response
d. Biomaterials as sensors
e. Regulatory requirements for biomaterials

4. The biocoatings that permit the interface between the sensor and the body's fluids Tissue modeling
a. Currently available biocoatings and their limitations
b. Development of engineered biocoatings
c. Characterization of biocoatings and their ability to facilitate analyte diffusion
d. Regulatory requirements for biocoatings

Each of these four main areas will be addressed by one of the 4 working breakout groups. It is expected that there will be overlap between groups. Each group will provide its own perspective, on the objectives, in an effort to identify key barriers to the development of implantable glucose biosensors. The groups will consider their topic with respect to 3-5 year or 5 year and greater feasibility. The groups will then interact to develop a matrix of research topics. The groups will then prioritize the topics identifying short and long-term projects which can be addressed through investigation.

Expected Outcomes:
At the conclusion of the workgroups, the group will present the group finding to the entire IRT audience. The group leaders will then meet with the IRT government team and other government experts to synthesize a single roadmap from the group roadmaps on the afternoon of the last day. A draft R&D roadmap with estimates of funding requirements will be the outcome of the IRT. After the IRT, group leaders will work with the government IRT team to produce group reports and an overall report suitable for publication. These reports will be used by TATRC to inform local command and collaborating agency leadership, as well as other interested government parties of research and development needs in this arena.

Please be advised that there is an opportunity to publish manuscripts that pertain to the topic of this meeting. We expect to publish in two journals, "Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology" and "Biomedical Microdevices". The conference chairs request that you notify us of your intent to submit a paper.

We thank-you for your support & participation in this meeting, and appreciate your contributions.

The Meeting Chairmen & The IRT Planning Team

 

If you have any questions please contact: The Marketing Director
Last Updated: December 2007