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Wristbands can analyze body chemistry
Our sweat contains a combination of numerous substances that allow conclusions about the state of health. Scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, USA, have taken advantage of this aspect to develop wearable welding sensors that can analyze our body chemistry in real time.
With the help of a flexible, body-worn plastic sensor, the sweat is analyzed and the molecular test results are sent to a smartphone, explain the scientists of the University of California in the journal "Nature". However, so far the sensor has only collected four major biomarkers: glucose, lactate, sodium and potassium. Thus, for example, a lack of fluid or the fatigue of the muscles can be detected early. Future versions of the welding sensors could cover a much wider range of substances, enabling real-time monitoring of overall health, researchers hope.
The composition of sweat allows conclusions about health. Sweat sensors can record the values in real time. (Image: Jürgen Fälchle / fotolia.com) Sweat sensors in brow and bracelets?
The University of California materials scientist has developed a small, portable sensor that reads the molecular composition of sweat and sends the results to a smartphone in real time. The flexible plastic sensors could, for example, be incorporated into arm bands or headbands and indicate changes in the body at an early stage, their creators report. "The idea is a thumb-up or thumb-down sensor that provides real-time information. For example, it can give you an alarm when you need a drug or dehydration and need some water to drink, "explains Ali Javey of the University of California.
Real-time analysis of biomarkers
Welding sensors have already been developed by various laboratories, the US scientists report. The sweat contains a variety of electrolytes and metabolites, which are end products of biological processes of the body (for example, the formation of lactic acid in physical training). The sensors available so far, however, typically focused on one component of the sweat during the measurement and could not transmit their measurements in real time, write Javey and colleagues. Comprehensive chemical analysis of ingested substances was done with separate, non-portable instruments on the previous welding sensors, adds John Rogers of the University of Illinois, who also helped develop the new welding sensors. "The current device is portable, it provides continuous data streams and measures multiple biomarkers simultaneously," Rogers continues.
Body temperature and four more values are recorded
Technological advances have made it possible to equip the new sensors with a flexible electronic board and a plastic sensor array that measures glucose, lactate, sodium, potassium, and body temperature, the researchers report. As soon as the sensor comes into contact with sweat, electrical signals are generated which the sensor amplifies or filters and then calibrates to the skin temperature. This step is important because "electrochemical sensors are very sensitive to temperature and skin temperature when we sweat," explains Ali Javey. The data obtained are then transmitted to a smartphone.
Wide range of possible applications
According to the researchers, the sweat sensors will never be as accurate as blood tests that make up the "gold standard", and the medical relevance of the information would then have to be further tested. However, the advantage of the welding examination is that it does not require a blood sample with the needle, and the latter does not provide a practical means for minute-by-minute health assessment, whereas the welding sensors provide real-time results. In the future, the researchers hope to further expand the possibilities of medical application of the welding sensor and to detect further biomarkers. For example, Javey explains that certain biomarkers in sweat are associated with depression, for example. "Looking at the other chemicals, we might be able to get information about a person's mental health as well," the researcher points out. (Fp)