Biology & biomedicine Technological offers Quick diagnosis through the skin and tears
Quick diagnosis through the skin and tears
- Details
- Category: Technological offers
-
25 Nov 2016
A self-powered electrochemical sensor for detection of key metabolites such as lactate, glucose, and alcohol, among others, in physiological samples, has been developed. It can be implemented on flexible substrates. Biocompatible, it is very suitable for non-invasive medical applications in the form of skin-patches or contact lenses.
There is a growing need for tools that allow rapid diagnosis of certain diseases such as diabetes and mainly cardiovascular problems through key metabolite monitoring such as lactate and/or glucose.
Most of the commercial tools are based on colorimetric test strips, which are inexpensive and very easy to use, but in most cases only offer qualitative information. On the other hand, other commercial tools are more complex and need a reader for giving quantitative data. This makes them significantly more expensive.
In order to overcome this challenge, researchers from the Spanish National Research Council at the Barcelona Microelectronics Institute (IMB-CNM) have recently developed a self-powered electrochemical sensor for detection and monitoring of key metabolites such as lactate, glucose, and alcohol, among others, in physiological samples.
Easy to use, it can be developed over biocompatible and flexible substrates and allows the quantitative monitoring of key metabolites for a reliable, rapid diagnosis. It is very suitable for non-invasive medical applications in the form of skin-patches or contact lenses.
The biosensor is able to generate its own energy. It is based on electrochemical detection combining advanced design and printing techniques. Integrating an electrochromic display into the sensors enables the acquisition of quantitative information readable by the naked eye.
Their main application is in the field of non-invasive medical applications which require the monitoring of key metabolites such as lactate and glucose in sweat, saliva and tears.
Industrial partners interested on lactate, glucose and alcohol detection are being sought to exploit the existing know-how through a patent license or collaboration agreement.
Contact:
Isabel Gavilanes-Pérez, PhD.
Deputy Vice-Presidency for
Knowledge Transfer, CSIC.
Tel.: +34 – 93 594 77 00
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
