Investigation of pH and temperature effects on FRET systems for glucose sensing

Glucose monitoring is of critical importance in the life of Type I and many Type II diabetics. This research furthers work toward a minimally invasive implantable glucose sensor based on fluorescence detection. Current experimental models use heterogeneous fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) systems for sensing; ideally, the response of one fluorophore bound to a large polysaccharide is enhanced greatly in the presence of glucose while the other fluorophore bound to a glucose sensitive protein is diminished or unaffected. Many fluorophores are affected by environmental factors such as pH and temperature. FRET experiments using two fluorophores, tetramethylrodamine isothiocyanate (TRITC) and fluoroscein isothiocyanate (FITC), are performed evaluating the effects of fluctuations over the range of pH 4-8 and temperature 25-45 degree(s)C for various concentrations of glucose in a flow cell. TRITC is bound to the lectin Concanavalin A (Con A), and FITC is bound to dextran molecules of varying sizes.