Washington State University (WSU) researchers have developed a groundbreaking wearable health monitor that reliably measures key biochemicals in sweat during physical exercise. This 3D-printed device promises a non-invasive method to track health conditions and diagnose common diseases such as diabetes, gout, kidney disease, and heart disease.
BREAKTHROUGH IN HEALTH MONITORING
The study, published in ACS Sensors, demonstrates the monitor’s ability to accurately track glucose, lactate, and uric acid levels, as well as sweat rate, in volunteers during exercise.
Sweat, unlike blood, can be sampled non-invasively and contains vital metabolites indicative of health conditions. For instance:
- Uric Acid: Elevated levels signal gout, kidney disease, or heart disease risk.
- Glucose: Essential for diabetes management.
- Lactate: Reflects exercise intensity.
STUDY AND DEVELOPMENT
Chuchu Chen, a WSU Ph.D. student and lead author, highlights the global diabetes challenge and the potential impact of 3D printing in healthcare. The team’s health monitor, fabricated using a unique, one-step 3D printing process, employs single-atom catalysts and enzymatic reactions to enhance signal detection and measure low biomarker levels.
NOVEL FEATURES
The monitor includes three biosensors that change colour to indicate biochemical levels. It also features micro-channels to measure sweat rate and biomarker concentration, fabricated without supporting structures to avoid contamination.
VALIDATION AND FUTURE PROSPECTS
The health monitor was tested on volunteers’ arms and compared to lab results, demonstrating accurate and reliable measurements of chemical concentrations and sweat rate. The device, described as comfortable to wear, can be customized to measure additional biomarkers.
The research team is focused on improving the device design and further validation. They also aim to commercialize the technology, with WSU’s Office of Commercialization filing a provisional patent to protect the intellectual property.
