Smart tattoo measures blood sugar level

Now all people who are sick with diabetes, are forced to control the level of sugar in the blood. Of course, there are special devices that measure automatically, but still you can not avoid injecting and taking blood. But recently, scientists have introduced a system that will help monitor the level of sugar without injuries and cuts, simply using a special sensor and a special tattoo.

The specialists of the Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics of the Russian Academy of Sciences are responsible for the development, together with their colleagues from England and Germany. The principle of operation is simple: the enzyme glucose oxidase is “packed” in special microcapsules implanted under the skin. It oxidizes glucose, and the products of this reaction interact with the luminescent dye, of which the tattoo consists. By glow tattoos and you can determine the level of glucose.

In fact, the “smart tattoo” registers the level of fluctuations in blood glucose, and the glow of the tattoo is recorded by an optical sensor, which signals to the user what sugar level it currently has. Over time, the enzyme ends, and the microcapsules decay. But one “application”, according to the authors, is enough for about 1 year, which is much preferable to regular injections.

It should be noted that at the moment the new technology has only one significant drawback: the production of microcapsules can not be automated. At manufacturing they are inclined to gluing that forces to supervise each stage of process of manufacture under a microscope and to process them ultrasound. It is hoped that scientists will overcome this technological flaw, because such microcapsules, in theory, can be used not only for the diagnosis of diabetes, but also for the treatment of a number of diseases requiring regular administration of medications.

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