Researchers have reportedly created a low-cost biosensor at Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Hyderabad campus. Their biosensor is said to cost only ₹15 to make. What it offers is a way to detect health markers without needles, bypassing traditional blood tests. In a span of five minutes, it can detect chemical compounds called metabolites from blood, sweat, urine, and cells.
The device measures glucose and lactate, specifically, both important indicators of metabolic health. It may prove useful in tracking diseases like diabetic cardiomyopathy. The sensor in the device is created using a straightforward inkjet printing method on a flexible polyimide surface. The carbon nanotubes with specific enzymes help detect glucose and lactate. The biosensor works through electrochemical sensing, where it senses the chemical reactions in our body fluids and converts them into meaningful electrical signals. It’s plug-and-play, meaning there is no need for a complex setup or dedicated training to use it. The setup allows for detecting health markers instantly.
It is of use in the research and diagnostic sectors, including medical diagnostics, drug screening, toxicity testing, personalized medicine, and lab experiments. It makes the elimination of expensive optical equipment, dyes, or antibodies, usually used in lab tests, possible. The current version is better than previous iterations from a performance standpoint, and it stays accurate even at low oxygen levels.
