No needles necessary: This wearable can track your cholesterol and lactate levels

NUS Institute for Health Innovation & Technology

Researchers in Singapore have developed a wearable that bypasses the need to collect biofluid samples and can help detect medical conditions like strokes earlier.

According to a report on the project, the stretchable hydrogel-based sensor tracks the user's biomarkers -- chemicals found in blood and other body fluids -- including cholesterol and lactate levels, and is worn directly on the skin. The initiative is led by researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) and government agency A*STAR's Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (A*STAR's IMRE).

The wearable offers a non-invasive way to facilitate continuous, real-time monitoring and early detection of ailments, such as cardiovascular diseases and stroke. This addresses the limitations of current methods of gathering biofluid samples like blood, urine, and sweat.

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The wearable can also monitor athletes' lactate levels to detect signs of exhaustion and tissue hypoxia, which affect their performance. 

"Detecting diseases early requires the rapid, continuous, and convenient monitoring of vital biomarkers," the researchers noted. "This development is especially pertinent to areas including chronic disease management, population-wide screening, remote patient monitoring, and sport physiology."

The process of collecting biomarkers for analysis can be inconvenient and miss real-time traits. Doctors may need to induce sweating with drugs when collecting fluids from inactive individuals, which can be uncomfortable. 

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Solid-state epidermal biomarkers have emerged as an alternative form of health indicators. Found in the stratum corneum, or outermost layer of the skin, these biomarkers have shown to have correlations with diseases such as diabetes, hyperlipoproteinemia, and cardiovascular conditions. 

However, they are difficult to detect as traditional devices lack the necessary components to track solid-state epidermal biomarkers. 

The Singapore researchers said their wearable enables these biomarkers to dissolve and diffuse via the ionic conductive hydrogel layer and undergo electrochemical reactions between this ionic layer and an electronically conductive hydrogel layer. 

The necessary physiological data is then transmitted wirelessly to an external user interface via a flexible printed circuit board, providing continuous monitoring capabilities. 

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In clinical studies, the sensor indicated correlations between biomarkers detected on the skin and those found in blood samples, suggesting its accuracy, the researchers said. It also can detect solid-state lactate and cholesterol at low levels. 

"This wearable sensor is the first in the world that can monitor biomarkers on dry or non-sweaty skin," said Yang Le, principal scientist and head of A*STAR's IMRE's sensors and flexible electronics department. "The sensor's bilayer hydrogel electrode interacts with and detects biomarkers on our skin, allowing them to become a new class of health indicators. The stretchable design enhances comfort and accuracy as well, by adapting to our skin's natural elasticity."

Yang said the wearable can change health and lifestyle monitoring, particularly for those with chronic conditions that require constant monitoring. 

For example, it can potentially replace regular finger-prick tests for diabetics, said Liu Yuxin, an assistant professor from NUS' Institute for Health Innovation & Technology and N.1 Institute for Health. Liu added that it also can be applied to glucose tolerance tests, so pregnant women will no longer need to be subject to multiple blood draws.

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The Singapore researchers are now working to enhance the wearable's performance by boosting its sensitivity and working time and including support for other biomarkers. 

They are also working with hospitals to provide additional clinical validation and enable patients to trial the technology, particularly for continuous glucose monitoring.

In 2021, NUS researchers developed VeCare, a bandage that can detect and wirelessly send medical information related to chronic wounds, such as temperature and bacteria type. Able to capture and transmit data in under 15 minutes, the wearable sensor can speed up the assessment of such wounds and provide more timely treatment. 

Another research team from the Singapore university in 2021 also developed a way to tap the human body as a conduit for energy and power wearables. The technology can extract power from a single device, such as a mobile phone in the wearer's pocket, to wirelessly charge other wearables placed on the body. It can also pull unused energy from electronic appliances in homes or offices to power wearables.