WSU Researchers Develop Wearable Biosensor for Glucose Monitoring

New technology aims to make glucose monitoring more cost-effective, accurate, and less invasive for people with diabetes.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Researchers at Washington State University have developed a wearable biosensor that uses microneedles and sensors to measure sugar levels in the fluid around cells, providing an alternative to continuous glucose monitoring systems. The sensor is designed to be more user-friendly, less invasive, and more sensitive than current glucose monitoring devices on the market.

Why it matters

Accurate and accessible glucose monitoring is crucial for managing diabetes and preventing complications. The new WSU biosensor technology aims to address some of the key limitations of existing glucose monitors, such as skin irritation, pain, and lack of sensitivity, making it a potentially important advancement for diabetes care.

The details

The WSU sensor uses 3D-printed components, including a button-activated pump and tiny hollow microneedles less than a millimeter long, to extract fluid from under the skin for testing. Unlike other glucose monitors that can cause inflammation, the testing process occurs outside the body. The sensor also employs a single-atom catalyst and enzymatic reactions to enhance the sugar signal and detect low biomarker levels.

  • The research findings were published in the journal Analyst in February 2026.
  • The researchers have filed a provisional patent for the technology through the WSU Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

The players

Annie Du

Research professor in WSU's College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and co-corresponding author on the research.

Kaiyan Qiu

Berry Assistant Professor in WSU's School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering and co-corresponding author on the research.

Yonghao Fu

PhD student in the WSU School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering and co-first author on the research paper.

Washington State University

The university where the wearable biosensor technology was developed.

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What they’re saying

“We were able to amplify the signal through our new single-atom catalyst and make sensors that are smaller, smarter, and more sensitive. This is the future and provides a foundation for being able to detect other disease biomarkers in the body.”

— Annie Du, Research professor (Mirage News)

“Ours is much more benign for customers and users.”

— Kaiyan Qiu, Berry Assistant Professor (Mirage News)

“The hollow microneedles are painless and minimally invasive, making them next-generation medical devices.”

— Kaiyan Qiu, Berry Assistant Professor (Mirage News)

“The nanozymes make our signal much stronger and can detect a minimal amount of any biomarker.”

— Kaiyan Qiu, Berry Assistant Professor (Mirage News)

“My goal is to make advanced sensing technology more practical for everyday healthcare. I enjoy working on a project that can combine different technologies so that we can take advantage of their strengths.”

— Yonghao Fu, PhD student (Mirage News)

What’s next

The researchers plan to test the glucose monitors on animals and investigate using the technology to detect additional or multiple biomarkers.

The takeaway

The new wearable biosensor developed at Washington State University has the potential to revolutionize glucose monitoring for people with diabetes, making it more cost-effective, accurate, and less invasive than current options. This advancement in sensor technology could significantly improve diabetes management and care.