Measuring 'Blood Sugar' Using Saliva Instead of Blood

▲Hypoglycemia has been found to increase the risk of dementia. [Photo by Asia Economy DB]

[Asia Economy Reporter Junho Hwang] A technology that can measure blood sugar without drawing blood has been developed. It can detect low concentrations of blood sugar in body fluids and is easy to commercialize, making blood sugar measurement expected to become even easier.

The National Research Foundation of Korea announced on the 3rd that a joint research team including Professor Jinwoong Kim of Sungkyunkwan University and Professor Unryong Jeong of Pohang University of Science and Technology developed a piezoelectric sensor capable of measuring blood sugar from body fluids such as saliva, sweat, and tears. The related research results were featured as a cover paper in the international academic journal Advanced Functional Materials.

The research team created conductive microparticles coated with silver nanowires. Then, they attached 'boronic acid,' which can bind only to glucose (sugar), to the silver nanowires. When glucose binds to boronic acid, the nanowires connect to each other. The more glucose present, the more connections form between the silver nanowires, causing a momentary increase in current, which is precisely measured through piezoelectric technology and displayed as blood sugar levels.

The team stated that this device can measure a wide range of glucose concentrations from 0.56 μM to 56 mM. It can measure both the glucose concentration range in blood (5?20 mM) and in body fluids (50?200 μM), enabling blood sugar measurement without drawing blood.

The research team explained, "The device can be implemented in a square shape about 6 mm on each side and can detect glucose with a small amount of body fluid," adding, "The sensor was manufactured using off-the-shelf components that can be mass-produced."

Meanwhile, the research team anticipated that depending on which substances are arranged on the surface of the silver nanowires, the technology could be applied to measure concentrations of other biomolecules such as hormones or proteins.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.