New method for developing precise sensors for health monitoring

Researchers at the University of Turku, Finland, have presented a new approach to developing more accurate sensors for health monitoring. As part of their study, they successfully produced nanomaterials from carbon nanotubes that could be used to measure substances at very low concentrations, such as female hormones. This development could lead to significant advancements in continuous health monitoring. 

Carbon nanotubes, consisting of a single layer of graphene, offer immense potential for sensor technology. However, there have been challenges in manufacturing them, as the process creates a mixture of conductive and semi-conductive nanotubes that differ in their chirality. Chirality refers to how the graphene sheet is rolled into a cylindrical structure. The electrical and chemical properties of the nanotubes depend significantly on this chirality. 

Han Li, Collegium Researcher in materials engineering at the University of Turku, has developed methods to separate nanotubes with different chiralities, allowing for a more precise study of their electrochemical properties. 

“Although the difference in the chirality of the nanotubes is very slight, their properties are very different,” explains Doctoral Researcher Ju-Yeon Seo. By purifying and separating the carbon nanotubes, the researchers were able to test their differences as sensor materials. The sensor used in this study was made entirely of nanotubes, providing precise control over the material’s properties. 

Notably, one type of nanotube (6.5) was found to be more efficient than another (6.6) in adsorbing dopamine. Adsorption refers to the ability of a material to bind molecules or atoms to its surface. This capacity is crucial when measuring substances in very low concentrations, such as female hormones. 

“The result is significant because by being able to precisely control the properties of carbon nanotubes we can fine-tune the ability of the sensor material to detect changes in specific substances,” adds Doctoral Researcher Seo. Current sensors are already used to measure blood glucose levels. However, the researchers at the University of Turku aim to develop sensors that are more sensitive and capable of detecting much lower concentrations, such as those of hormones. 

“The molecules that we are interested in, such as female hormones, are present in the body in concentrations that are millions of times lower than glucose. In order to study hormone fluctuations, the accuracy of biosensors needs to be improved significantly,” explains Associate Professor of Materials Engineering Emilia Peltola. 

COMPAMED-tradefair.com; Source: Turun yliopisto (University of Turku)