Smart nanotattoo for diabetics

No more blood tests?

By NANONORDIC.COM STAFF REPORTER
A smart “tattoo” is under development that could allow diabetics to use light to measure their blood sugar level.

A lot of diabetics must monitor blood glucose levels to prevent fluctuation. These tests generally require a deposit of blood from a finger prick on a test strip. This procedure can of course be both painful and annoying since some diabetics have to do this several times a day.

The new “smart” tattoo is being developed by students at Louisiana Tech University’s Institute for Micromanufacturing in Ruston, US and consists of nanoparticles that are injected into the skin. A spectrometer using filtered light activates the nanoparticles and a readout form the spectrometer indicated the blood sugar levels.

In order to test how the body might react to the nanoparticles tattoo the nanoparticles were injected into mice. It was found that fibroblasts affected the readings somewhat, but an adjustment in the light reader’s software could compensate, but according to Betterhumans further testing is needed before human trials can begin.

A lot of diabetics must monitor blood glucose levels to prevent fluctuation. These tests generally require a deposit of blood from a finger prick on a test strip. This procedure can of course be both painful and annoying since some diabetics have to do this several times a day.

The new “smart” tattoo is being developed by students at Louisiana Tech University’s Institute for Micromanufacturing in Ruston, US and consists of nanoparticles that are injected into the skin. A spectrometer using filtered light activates the nanoparticles and a readout form the spectrometer indicated the blood sugar levels.

In order to test how the body might react to the nanoparticles tattoo the nanoparticles were injected into mice. It was found that fibroblasts affected the readings somewhat, but an adjustment in the light reader’s software could compensate, but according to Betterhumans further testing is needed before human trials can begin.