New Technology Allows Diabetes Testing Through Saliva and Tears

CREDIT: Jeff Goecker, Purdue University. View full size image

This Research in Action article was provided to LiveScience in partnership with the National Science Foundation.

These color-enhanced scanning electron microscope images show nanosheets that are components of a new biosensor that can detect even minute concentrations of glucose in four different human serums: saliva, tears and urine as well as blood. The technology uses nanosheets made of graphene, platinum nanoparticles and an enzyme (glucose oxidase) that converts glucose to peroxide, which generates a signal on an electrode. The biosensor might one day be a welcome relief to diabetics who have to regularly prick their fingers to test their sugar levels. This research was supported by NSF.

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