Innovative wearable device measures disease markers in sweat: study

Scientists have created a portable health monitor that can analyze key biochemicals in sweat during exercise, according to a recent study. Research published in ACS Sensors suggests that this 3D-printed device could potentially offer a simple and non-invasive method for monitoring health and detecting diseases such as diabetes, gout, kidney disease and heart disease.

The study detailed how the monitor effectively monitored glucose, lactate, uric acid and sweat rate levels in volunteers during exercise. Chuchu Chen, a PhD student at Washington State University and lead author of the study, highlighted the potential of combining 3D printing with disease detection techniques in developing such innovative devices.

To create this proof-of-concept health monitor, researchers used a single-step 3D printing process and single-atom catalyst and enzymatic reactions to increase signal strength and accurately measure biomarkers at low levels.

Unlike taking blood samples, sweat analysis is non-invasive and provides insight into key metabolites indicative of various conditions. For example, the level of uric acid in sweat may signal the risk of gout, kidney disease or heart disease, while the level of glucose indicates diabetes and the level of lactate reflects the intensity of exercise.

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According to Kaiyan Qiu, Berry assistant professor in WSU’s School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, the health monitor contains micro-channels designed using 3D printing to measure sweat rate and biomarker concentrations. This design eliminates the need for support structures that could potentially lead to contamination upon removal.

In validation tests comparing monitor readings on volunteers’ arms with laboratory results, researchers found consistent and accurate measurements of chemical concentrations and sweat rates.