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Breathalyzer detected acetone levels to monitor glucose in diabetes
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The use of a hand-held breathalyzer device may be a novel way to monitor blood glucose and potentially eliminate finger pricking in the future, according to a press release. The data were presented at the 2013 American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists Annual Meeting and Exposition.
The device uses a multilayer technology with nanometer-thick films consisting of two polymers that have the ability to detect acetone levels in patients with diabetes, according to Ronny Priefer, PhD, of Western New England University.
“Breathalyzers are a growing field of study because of their potential to have a significant positive impact on patients’ quality of life and compliance with diabetes monitoring. What makes our technology different is that it only accounts for acetone and doesn’t react with other components in the breath,” Priefer said in a press release. “The breathalyzer we currently have is about the size of a book, but we’re working with an engineer, Dr. Michael Rust at Western New England University, to make it smaller, more similar to the size of a breathalyzer typically used to detect blood alcohol content levels.”
Researchers were able to synthesize poly(4-vinylbenzeneboronic acid) and multilayered with poly(allylamine hydrochloride). They crosslinked the two polymers using only acetone vapor, thus developing the device, according to abstract data.
Priefer will conduct controlled testing with patients in late 2014 to early 2015 to compare readings from the breathalyzer with traditional finger pricking, according to the press release.
For more information:
Priefer R. Abstract W4003. Presented at: American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists Annual Meeting and Exposition; Nov. 10-14, 2013; San Antonio.
Disclosure: Endocrine Today could not confirm any relevant financial disclosures.