This skin patch wearable device monitors blood glucose based on sweat instead of blood sample and delivers diabetes drugs

A group of south Korean scientists has developed a breakthrough process for accurately monitoring blood glucose levels based on sweat instead of a blood sample in diabetic patients. People suffering from diabetes needs to be continuously monitored for glucose levels and must be treated with insulin accordingly.

The usual method of testing would involve painful method pricking the fingers with a needle for blood and followed by subsequent analysis. But with the new sweat based glucose monitoring system that comes in the form of wearable, it is possible to analyze the glucose levels accurately and it comes with a disposable strip sensor. This system would also ensure automatic delivery of necessary drugs to diabetes patients.

Wearable sweat based Glucose monitoring system

-The entire system is printed on a silicone patch

-It contains a series of closely packed Graphene sensors for humidity, glucose, pH, and temperature

-The electrodes of the sensors are made of Porous gold nanoparticles that create an electrochemically active surface to analyze the components in sweat

-A heating strip for humidity and quick generation of sweat 

-Above the heating strip, there is a stack of needles with drug metformin, A drug associated with the control of Type 2 diabetes.

How does the wearable function?

Sweat accumulates in the sweat uptake layer of the patch. The patch also serves to eliminate any drugs that interfere with glucose sensing. There is a waterproof band located above the patch that prevents the patch from peeling away from the skin.The measurements begin as soon as the sweat covers the sensors. When the blood glucose levels are higher, then the therapeutic part automatically activates the microneedles for drug delivery.

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Researchers observed that the glucose measurements made through the sweat based system are similar to the measurements made via blood assay kit. Although sounds promising, Researchers believe that sensor must be made more sensitive for better accuracy of results.

The Research study is published in the journal Science Advances

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