Scientists from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) have developed an innovative plaster that can measure body biomarkers through sweat, offering a new non-invasive method for health monitoring. Human sweat contains biomarkers such as glucose, lactate, and urea, which indicate various health conditions. This makes it ideal for daily monitoring, explained the NTU researchers at the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE).
Traditional methods for monitoring glucose levels in diabetic patients involve invasive finger prick tests or expensive, rigid sensor-based devices. In contrast, the NTU team has created a flexible, light-based sensing device by encapsulating a microlaser in liquid crystal droplets and embedding it within a soft hydrogel film. This compact plaster can provide highly accurate biomarker readings within minutes.
“Our innovation represents a non-invasive, quick, and effective way for diabetic patients to monitor their health,” said Nanyang Assistant Professor Chen Yu-Cheng. The plaster supports healthcare in Singapore and globally, addressing the rising prevalence of diabetes. Over 400,000 Singaporeans currently live with the disease, with numbers projected to exceed one million by 2050.
Reported in the journal Analytical Chemistry, this innovation aligns with NTU 2025, a strategic plan aimed at leveraging research to benefit society. The plaster distinguishes each biomarker using different colored liquid crystal dots. When sweat interacts with the plaster, the light emitted by the microlasers changes based on biomarker concentrations. Users can read these levels by shining a light source on the plaster and analyzing the emitted light via a mobile app.
In experiments, the plaster detected fluctuations in glucose, lactate, and urea levels in sweat down to 0.001 millimeters, surpassing the sensitivity of current technologies. NTU’s device, capable of measuring multiple biomarkers with ultra-high sensitivity, offers comprehensive health information. “This is particularly beneficial for diabetic patients as current devices focus only on high glucose levels,” said NTU PhD candidate Nie Ningyuan.
Dr. Lin Chun-Hsien from National Taiwan University Hospital, Taiwan, highlighted the device’s potential to alleviate the pain and inconvenience of finger prick tests. The NTU team plans to expand the microlaser sensors to detect a wider variety of substances, including drugs and other chemicals found in sweat, enhancing its utility in health monitoring.
Article written by Technology Networks
09/07/2024
Source:
Technology networks
https://www.technologynetworks.com/applied-sciences/news/band-aid-like-microlaser-device-measures-glucose-levels-from-sweat-388519