Nanocomposites, microcircuitry could change Diabetes treatment in the future

from JoeUser Forums

 

 

This non-invasive technology using extremely small nanoparticles embedded in the contact lens was developed by Chemical and Biochemical Engineering professor Jin Zhang at The University of Western Ontario.

These engineered nanoparticles react with glucose molecules found in tears, causing a chemical reaction that changes their color. The obvious limitations are how the person ‘sees’ colors and that diabetes damages the eye’s natural lens and nerve layer (the retina), so it might not be useful for all diabetics. It’s still in development and hasn’t reached human testing stages yet.

                     

Contact-lens scientist Babak Parviz at the University of Washington has developed a smart lens that measures the blood sugar levels of people with diabetes, by checking sugar levels in tears electronically. His lens has an intricate manufacturing needs an RF power source near it at this point though, and tests haven’t been done to see possible problems between it and the eye.

             

                                                                        not the actual lens

Multifunctional electronic contact lenses would possess medical abilities to monitor glucose, cholesterol, sodium, and potassium levels of the user, sending data to medical personnel for analysis through wireless data transmitters. That means all those blood tests and needle fears could be done with also, eventually. They might eventually gain vision expanding or even gaming possibilities.

These technologies have vast potential applications beyond biomedical devices, including for food packaging. For example, nanocomposite films can prevent food spoilage by preventing oxygen, carbon dioxide and moisture from reaching fresh meats and other foods, or by measuring pathogenic contamination; others can make packaging increasingly biodegradable.

 

 

Source: http://www.nano.org.uk/news/index.php?article=319

           http://tinyurl.com/yygdwp7

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46,404 views 22 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top

Beats the finger stick!  But I had problems wearing contact lenses (before I got Lasik) so I guess I will go the finger stick route should I ever develop the disease.

Thanks for the info tho!

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

Thats neat, I have many Diabetics in my family, my mom and uncle are both type 1.

Groupy 2 - Organize multiple applications into grouped tabs on your Windows desktop
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top

These developments are not available just yet... will require safety testing (especially the option with the microcircuitry) as heat is liberated from the circuits and they are very close to the Cornea (clear layer of the eye).

@Lord Xia - please send the link to this article as well as the following one especially relevant for Type I Diabetics:  http://tinyurl.com/48nwlc4


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Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Whoa, nice article Doc! Just happens I have an eye appt. on the 8th. Gotta keep an eye out for glaucoma.....no pun intended.

My pressure is a tad high, the doctor says, so we're watching it carefully.  Diabetes sucks, you know.

Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Something for me to keep track of for sure.|-)

I have a Diabetic eye exam this afternoon.

Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top

If folks are interested in these types of tech solutions and developments, please let me know!

Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top

Quoting DrJBHL, reply 6
If folks are interested in these types of tech solutions and developments, please let me know!
End of DrJBHL's quote

Doc - if it is Tech, you betcha!  Besides, anyone in the Tech field all of a sudden becomes the "goto guy" for family when they have questions.  More often than not, I have no Idea what they are talking about, but I know how to find out.

Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top

but I know how to find out.
End of quote

That's the key. Hello! You're all connected to the internet! Look it up! :)

I'm talking about really radical developments in Biotech, for example.

Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
"surgical" cure to suicidal depression..... being tried in the US with about 70% success rate.... news here in Oz [Royal Melbourne] is 5 out of 5 ....100% - so far...;)
Reply #11 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Not a good option for those with Sjogrens.

But it is another excellent money maker...potentially.

The FDA would first have to make the company pay the Feds for clinical trials, and when or if it passes (~10 yrs), perhaps ....just perhaps...., genetic engineering will have advanced to the point where babies would be born diabetes-free (and free from other diseases...possibly).

:annoyed:

Wait...what am I saying?  Such advancements would only cripple the industry.

Peer-reviewed.

Evidenced-based.

Peer-reviewed.

Why not break the mold?

..... 'Cuz it works.'

-.-

Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Why not break the mold?

..... 'Cuz it works.'
End of quote

Why not? Because that's the way we examine if it works, how well it works and what problems exist with it.

"'Cuz it works" - sounds anti-intellectual and tautological. Definitely not the way to progress.

"Why is the sky blue?" - 1. Because of the dust reflecting and refracting the light passing through the atmosphere altering the pure black of space.

                                   2. Because.

The person receiving answer 2 gets the short end of the stick, don't you think?

Reply #13 from Elemental Forums Top

W00t! I go to UW! You are welcome.  :thumbsup:

Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top

All these advancements are all well and good...unfortunately the way things are going with our wealth...uh...I mean...healthcare system they will only be available for the rich or privileged.

Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top

^ I had hoped things would have changed with respect to that, but then reality happened. :(

Reply #16 from Elemental Forums Top

Well, I'm not saying it's perfect in Australia, but at least we have bulk billing for those that need it most, and relatively cheap prescription medicine, at least for those on health care or pensioner cards.  (Although I daresay the normal price for prescriptions in Australia is quite a bit lower than for the same prescription in the US.)  And there is the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, which heavily subsidises crucial medicine.

Though you can't really go past ocean-plant-based Omega 3 for greatly helping general health! =)  I mean, fish oil has Omega 3, but the fish only got it from other organisms in the sea, they didn't produce it themselves. ^_^   And it's easier to breed ocean-plant-organisms in labs on a massive scale than fish. :P (Btw: pun not intended regarding the "scale" bit.  Really, it just happened! ;-))

Best regards,
Steven.

Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Make sure you get the purist grade of Omega-3's Steven. If they come from fish, then there may well be lead and other heavy metals in them...in the individual fish, the levels are tolerable, but when concentrated from many fish... you get the idea.

Don't buy it unless it details the heavy metals levels, mate. ;)

Reply #18 from Elemental Forums Top

Although I would hope that plant-based ocean varieties of Omega 3 would not have heavy lead.  Wanting plant-ocean-based Omega 3 rather than fish-based was not only because the fish did not produce the nutrient themselves. ;-)  I'll have to see about getting some good-quality, low-contaminant-level Omega 3.  I'll see if it's possible. =)

It's funny looking at your Avatar (no relation to the movie ;-) over and over again and seeing "Beam me up Scotty". :P (if I have my original Star Trek correct in this case :star: )  Is he the same one who says "The engines canna take it cap'n"? ;-)

Actually, is it Scotty or Sylvester McCoy?

Best regards,
Steven.

Reply #19 from JoeUser Forums Top

Quoting DrJBHL, reply 8

That's the key. Hello! You're all connected to the internet! Look it up!
End of DrJBHL's quote

Tell that to your 80 year old aunt who is very frustrated. ;)

Quoting DrJBHL, reply 8
I'm talking about really radical developments in Biotech, for example.
End of DrJBHL's quote

I check this forum every day.  I might get to check Cnet each day as well.  I appreciate you culling the best out this way, and will continue to read it as long as you write it.

Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top

 hay doc i wish thay would pull there finger out  i am tired of pricking myself 4 times a day       :waaaa:

 

Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Actually, is it Scotty or Sylvester McCoy?
End of quote

It's Leonard McCoy... "Bones".

Quoting captinmoonlight, reply 20
 hay doc i wish thay would pull there finger out  i am tired of pricking myself 4 times a day      

 
End of captinmoonlight's quote

From your mouth to G-d's ear.

Reply #22 from Elemental Forums Top

Gee, that kinda shows how much I followed the Original Star Trek. ;-)

Best regards,
Steven.