Sensor for detecting heavy metals in sweat

History

2023: Development Announcement

In late January 2023, researchers from the University of São Paulo in Brazil, along with colleagues from Germany and Sweden, unveiled a flexible sensor that can detect heavy metals in sweat.

According to the developers, their adaptation is easy to use and can detect metals in samples of sweat, an easily accessible biological fluid, and then transmit the results to a smartphone. The technology could help diagnose heavy metal toxicity in regions of the world with limited access to diagnostic equipment.

Heavy Metal in Sweat Detection Sensor

Heavy metals such as lead or cadmium for 2023 can cause serious toxicity if they accumulate in the body, but determining the concentration of such metals in biological samples requires expensive laboratory equipment and qualified personnel. Some metals contribute to the development of cancer tumors, cadmium and mercury have a strong toxic effect on the kidneys, lead and mercury adversely affect the nervous system, cadmium and lead accumulate in the male genitals and cause their degeneration and affect the ability to produce.

The base of the device is polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and on top of it is a conductive flexible copper adhesive tape, a label of the type that can be bought in a stationery store with a sensor printed on it, and a protective layer of nail polish or spray. According to the developers, the detected copper is removed by immersing in an iron chloride solution for 20 minutes, followed by washing in distilled water to promote the necessary corrosion.

The device is a flexible film sensor that can analyze sweat. Unlike other gold standards for detecting heavy metals in biological fluids, the sensor is simple in terms of the materials used to make it and the manufacturing steps. All this, according to the developers, provides speed, scalability, low power and low cost of the device.^[1]

Notes