If taken in just the right amount, lithium can alleviate the symptoms of bipolar disorder and depression. Too little won’t work, while too much can cause dangerous side effects. Patients must undergo invasive blood tests to precisely monitor the amount of this medication in the body. But today, rese
archers report the invention of a tiny sensor that detects lithium levels from sweat on the surface of a fingertip in as little as 30 seconds. It is very convenient and doesn’t require a trip to the clinic.
“Although it may not be visible, the human body constantly produces sweat, often only in very small amounts,” says Shuyu Lin, Ph.D.. Lin is a postgraduate student researcher who co-presented the work with graduate student Jialun Zhu at the meeting. “Small molecules derived from medication, including lithium, show up in that sweat. We recognized this as an opportunity to develop a new type of sensor that would detect these molecules.
The team used an ion-selective electrode to trap the lithium ions after they traversed the gel. Ions accumulate generating a difference in electrical potential compared with a reference electrode. The scientists used this difference to infer the concentration of lithium present in sweat. Together, these components comprise a tiny, rectangular sensor that is smaller than the head of a thumbtack and can detect lithium in around 30 seconds.
The research team acknowledges support and funding from the National Science Foundation, Brain and Behavior Foundation, Precise Advanced Technologies and Health Systems for Underserved Populations, and the UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.Abstract
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