Tejal Somvanshi
A research team at Binghamton University has developed a paper-based biosensor that monitors glucose levels through sweat analysis, potentially offering an alternative to finger-stick blood tests used by millions with diabetes.
The innovative system, detailed in Microsystems & Nanoengineering journal, uses Bacillus subtilis bacterial spores that respond to glucose in potassium-rich bodily fluids. The power generated by this bacterial reaction indicates glucose levels.
Professor Seokheun “Sean” Choi, who led the research with Assistant Professor Anwar Elhadad and PhD student Yang “Lexi” Gao, explains a key advantage: “The problem with using enzymes is that they denature and deactivate. You need to store it in a refrigerator, but even then, their potency goes down over time. Our spore-based system can endure very harsh environments and activates only when the right conditions are met.”
Current Challenges
The system currently shows:
- Variable potassium concentrations in sweat may affect results
- Lower sensitivity than conventional enzymatic biosensors
“Everyone has a different potassium concentration in their sweat, and I don’t know how this concentration affects the glucose,” Choi acknowledges.
Research Background
The project builds on 15 years of biobattery research from the university’s Bioelectronics and Microsystems Lab. The National Science Foundation supported the study through two grants.
The paper-based design is clean, sustainable, and disposable, as noted by researcher Gao.
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Future Development
The research team will work on improving the detection process. Their work establishes a novel glucose sensing mechanism that requires further development.
The research marks PhD student Gao’s ninth publication since joining Binghamton University in fall 2021. Her background in marine chemistry and experience with paper-based lead ion detectors contributed valuable expertise to the project.
