Researchers at Penn State University have invented a small and convenient device for measuring blood sugar without the need for needles
Don't store avocado like this: it's dangerousIn most cases, those suffering from diabetes are forced to use rather invasive devices, equipped with a needle. But a new invention could turn blood glucose monitoring into a much less annoying and more practical experience. The researchers of the Penn State University.
No needles and blood, to measure blood sugar levels, sweat detected by an adhesive device to be worn on the arm is enough.
A practical and non-invasive solution that could revolutionize the lives of millions of people
To succeed in the enterprise, the team of researchers, led by Professor Huanyu "Larry" Cheng of the Department of Scientific and Mechanical Engineering, first created a device with laser induced graphene (LIG), a material consisting of layers of carbon the thickness of an atom. Due to its high electrical conductivity and ease of fabrication, laser-induced graphene immediately seemed like the ideal solution for the invention, but a problem arose.
The LIG is not sensitive to glucose at all - explains Professor Cheng. - So, we needed to deposit a glucose-sensitive material on the LIG.
Thus, the experts opted for nickel, which is highly sensitive to glucose, and combined it with gold to reduce the potential risks of an allergic reaction. The sensitivity of the nickel-gold alloy enabled Cheng's team to rule out enzymes, which are often used to measure blood glucose in more invasive devices. These enzymes, however, can rapidly degrade with time and changes in temperature.
An enzymatic sensor must be kept at a certain temperature and pH, and the enzyme cannot be stored for the long term. glucose regardless of these changes.
Non-enzymatic sensors, in fact, require an alkaline solution, which can damage the skin and make the device more difficult to wear. To address this problem, the researchers connected a microfluidic chamber to the small and therefore space-saving LIG alloy.
To carry out the test, the scientists used a skin-safe adhesive to attach the device to a person's arm, one hour after a meal and two hours later. Subject was asked to do some physical activity in order to sweat. And the results were encouraging: the device worked great, detecting a higher blood glucose level first, which then dropped on the second measurement.
Cheng and the team said they intend to improve their prototype to help patients with diabetes. This small, practical and low-cost invention could truly revolutionize the lives of millions of people!
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Fonti: Penn State University/Science Direct
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