Paper Trails
Researchers have developed a cheap and disposable diagnostic tool powered only by your fingertips. The user taps the triboelectric generator on the bottom of the self-powered paper-based electrochemical device (SPED), and electricity from the tips of the fingers is accumulated in a potentiostat. The user places a fingerprick blood sample on top of the testing region, and a measurement of different analytes, such as glucose or lactic acid, is provided in under 30 seconds. The team envisions the test being used for diagnostics in low-resource settings or by military personnel deployed in remote locations.
Credit: Purdue University photo/Aniket Pal
Reference: A Pal et al., “Self-Powered, Paper-Based Electrochemical Devices for Sensitive Point-of-Care Testing” Adv Mater Technol, 1700130 (2017).
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I have an extensive academic background in the life sciences, having studied forensic biology and human medical genetics in my time at Strathclyde and Glasgow Universities. My research, data presentation and bioinformatics skills plus my ‘wet lab’ experience have been a superb grounding for my role as an Associate Editor at Texere Publishing. The job allows me to utilize my hard-learned academic skills and experience in my current position within an exciting and contemporary publishing company.
