Dread pricking your fingers every morning to monitor your glucose levels? Take heart, US scientists have developed the prototype of a first-of-its-kind wearable glucose monitoring device that uses sweat on skin instead of needles.
A team from the Pennsylvania State University constructed the device first with laser-induced graphene (LIG) -- a material consisting of atom-thick carbon layers in various shapes. While LIG appeared to be an ideal framework for the sensing device -- it was "not sensitive to glucose at all".
The team then chose nickel because of its robust glucose sensitivity, and combined it with gold to lower potential risks of an allergic reaction.
While the concentration of glucose in sweat is about 100 times less than the concentration in blood, the team's new device is sensitive enough to accurately measure the glucose in sweat and reflect the concentration in blood, revealed the paper published online in Biosensors and Bioelectronics.
The nickel-gold alloy's sensitivity allowed the team to exclude enzymes, which are often used to measure glucose in more invasive, commercially available devices, said Huanyu "Larry" Cheng, Professor in Penn State's Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics.
However, nonenzymatic sensors require alkaline solution, which can damage the skin and typically limits device wearability. To curb this, the teama-attached a microfluidic chamber to the LIG alloy, which is connected to a collection inlet that passes sweat into the solution without allowing the solution to touch the skin.
The basic solution interacts with the glucose molecules to produce a compound that reacts with the alloy. This reaction triggers an electrical signal, indicating the concentration of glucose in the sweat, Cheng said.
In a proof-of-concept test, the researchers used a skin-safe adhesive to attach the reusable device to a person's arm one hour and three hours after a meal. The subject performed a brief workout -- just enough to produce sweat -- right before each measurement time.
A few minutes after collecting the sweat, the researchers found that the detected glucose concentration dropped from the first measurement to the next. The glucose measurements from the device were verified by measurements made with a commercially available glucose monitor.
"We want to work with physicians and other health care providers to see how we can apply this technology for daily monitoring of a patient," Cheng said. "This glucose sensor serves as a foundational example to show that we can improve the detection of biomarkers in sweat at extremely low concentrations."
Manipur: Gun battle breaks out among village volunteers of rival groups
Police said that several armed cadres of village volunteers opened indiscriminate fire on Koutruk village in the periphery of Imphal Valley from the adjoining hills in Kangpokpi district, and the armed village volunteers of rival ethnic groups retaliated.
2 CRPF personnel killed in attack by armed group in Manipur
Two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, including a Sub Inspector, were killed and two others have been injured after armed groups attacked a camp of security forces in Manipur’s Bishnupur district early on Saturday, police said.
New immunotherapy to fight cancer, keep healthy cells safe
A team of US researchers has developed a new immunotherapy technique that uses cytokine proteins as a potential treatment, effectively targeting tumours without causing harm to healthy cells.
Tripura records highest 79.83 pc voter turnout in Northeast
Tripura witnessed around 79.83 per cent voter turnout registered till 5 p.m. in the Tripura West Lok Sabha seat on Friday in the first of the seven-phased general polls, as per the data provided by the Election Commission of India (ECI).
Amid sporadic incidents of violence, Manipur's two LS seats record 68 per cent voting
Amidst stray incidents of violence, including vandalisation of polling booths, firing, and clashes, around 68 per cent of 15.44 lakh voters cast their votes in two Lok Sabha seats (one partially) in ethnic violence-hit Manipur on Friday, officials said.
Why excess sugar, oil are as dangerous for liver as alcohol
While alcohol is known to be bad for liver health, consuming foods rich in sugar and oil may be equally dangerous for the organ as well as for overall health, said doctors on Thursday, ahead of World Liver Day.
Congress in Tripura blocks rail stations to protest police fired-killing of 5 farmers in MP
The firing on Tuesday came during raucous protests to demand better crop prices in the drought-ravaged region that saw one farmer suicide every five hours in the past two years.
DMs, SPs of violence-hit MP districts transferred
The farmers agitation entered its eighth day on Thursday. The peasants have been on strike since June 1, demanding loan waiver and fair price for their produce.