Researchers at UC-San Diego‘s Department of Nanoengineering report to have created a new biosensor can warn athletes when they’re “about to hit the wall” but is also reminiscent of Fruit Stripe gum–it’s applied to the skin like a temporary tattoo. The sensors monitor the lactate released in sweat. Unlike clunkier lactate-measuring methods, such as blood sampling, this sensor’s design allows it to stay on the body and flex with movement.
An article in Analytical Chemistry describes the first human tests, performed on 10 volunteers, of the sensor, according to a release.
“The resulting temporal lactate profiles reflect changes in the production of sweat lactate upon varying the exercise intensity. Such skin-worn metabolite biosensors could lead to useful insights into physical performance and overall physiological status, hence offering considerable promise for diverse sport, military and biomedical applications,” the authors said in the report.
When Investment Rhymes with Canada
Canada has a proud history of achievement in the areas of science and technology, and the field of biomanufacturing and life sciences is no exception.
