346 million people worldwide suffer from diabetes. [1] Untreated diabetes causes complications such as cardiovascular disease, nephropathy, neuropathy, amputation and blindness and therefore reduces the life quality and expectancy. Diabetes is predicted to become the seventh leading cause of death in the world by the year 2030[1].

For a successful treatment of diabetes habitually controlling the plasma glucose level is inevitable for diabetes patients. Therefore measurement systems that are easy to use and that are cost efficient are needed. One common type of blood glucose sensor applies optic measurement principles: An enzymatic reaction with glucose changes the wavelength of irradiated light and the reflection of this light is measured with a sensor. The reacting enzyme is embedded in a polymer film, with many other components.

The drying and application of the films and its influence on the film is not completely understood, yet. The quickness and accuracy of the measurement however, is strongly dependent on the film morphology and therefore dependent on the drying conditions. The goal of this project is therefore to determine the component distribution, the stability, wettability and morphology, in the dried film depending on the drying conditions.

[1] World Health Organization