Using nanotechnology, Swiss researchers have developed a breath sensor to rapidly detect Type 1 diabetes. Blood tests and finger pricks could become a thing of the past.
As the
active ingredient in most nail polish removers, acetone seems an unlikely
candidate to revolutionize medical testing. But, according to a recent report
by the American Chemical Society, this compound may be the
key to
future diagnoses of diabetes.
While most people have an
acetone concentration of 900 ppb (particles per billion) in their breath,
diabetics often have twice this amount. Sotiris Pratsinis, a professor at the
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, has recently developed
a breath sensor able to detect these high acetone levels, which indicate the
presence of diabetes. The sensor is also able to diagnose ketoacidosis, a
dangerous insulin deficiency indicated by especially high levels of acetone in
the breath.
Pratsinis’
device uses nanotechnology to detect acetone. Containing ceramic nanoparticles
deposited between a set of gold electrodes, the sensor acts like an electrical
resistor. Acetone-filled air causes the resistance to lessen and more
electricity to pass through the electrodes. While the breath of a healthy
person causes little change in the resistance, the breath of a diabetic patient
causes it to suddenly drop. Crucially, the sensor is even able to measure
extremely moist air, such as breath.
The tiny
device employs nanotechnology to diagnose diabetes (source: ZTH Zurich).
Current methods of
diagnosing diabetes
are slow and inconvenient. In one method, patients cannot eat or drink for 8 hours,
and then must undergo a blood test. For a definitive diagnosis, this test must
be performed at least twice. A different method requires a patient to ingest an
unpleasant glucose drink and then have his/her blood drawn at repeated
intervals. These exhaustive tests can quickly rack up high medical bills.
The newly
developed breath sensor would eliminate these existing disadvantages and allow
for an instant, reliable diagnosis. It would also be a noninvasive option for
patients fearing needles. Pratsinis imagines that the technology might be used
by patients at home for day-to-day insulin measurements. Finger-prick blood
testing thus could become obsolete. In addition, the sensor could become an
invaluable tool for emergency rooms to rapidly detect diabetic emergencies.
Pratsinis envisions that nanotechnological
breath sensors will be useful in diagnosing other chronic illnesses. For now,
this device may revolutionize the practice of treating diabetes.
A user comment on this articlePosted on: 06-23-10 | By: Anonymouswhen can this device be seen at the market....i hope sooner
LG's Diabetes techPosted on: 05-28-10 | By: Joan Weinberg Agency-SelectSeveral years ago, LG Korea created a mobile phone that read sugar levels and transmitted this to doctors -- but decided against marketing it, alas.
