Critical point drying of hydrogels in analyte sensors
First Claim
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1. A method of preparing a hydrogel for a hydrogel-based analyte sensor configured for sensing the presence of an analyte in contact with the analyte sensor, the method comprising:
- applying the hydrogel to all or part of a surface of a sensor housing of the analyte sensor, wherein the hydrogel comprises indicator molecules that are configured to emit a detectable signal or a change in a detectable signal indicating the presence of the analyte;
applying a protective catalyst to the hydrogel, wherein applying the protective catalyst to the hydrogel comprises sputtering the protective catalyst on the hydrogel; and
using a critical point drying technique to dry the hydrogel, (i) which comprises the indicator molecules, (ii) which has been applied to all or part of the surface of the sensor housing, and (iii) to which the protective catalyst has been applied.
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Abstract
A hydrogel is dried by a critical point drying technique. The hydrogel may include indicator molecules embedded therein and may be part of a hydrogel-based device, such as, for example, an analyte sensor.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method of preparing a hydrogel for a hydrogel-based analyte sensor configured for sensing the presence of an analyte in contact with the analyte sensor, the method comprising:
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applying the hydrogel to all or part of a surface of a sensor housing of the analyte sensor, wherein the hydrogel comprises indicator molecules that are configured to emit a detectable signal or a change in a detectable signal indicating the presence of the analyte; applying a protective catalyst to the hydrogel, wherein applying the protective catalyst to the hydrogel comprises sputtering the protective catalyst on the hydrogel; and using a critical point drying technique to dry the hydrogel, (i) which comprises the indicator molecules, (ii) which has been applied to all or part of the surface of the sensor housing, and (iii) to which the protective catalyst has been applied. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of preparing a hydrogel for a hydrogel-based device, the method comprising:
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applying a protective catalyst to the hydrogel; and drying the hydrogel to which the protective catalyst has been applied, wherein drying the hydrogel comprises; replacing water within the hydrogel with an intermediate fluid that is miscible with water and CO2; replacing the intermediate fluid within the hydrogel with CO2; manipulating temperature and pressure to achieve super critical CO2; and removing the supercritical CO2 from the hydrogel. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification