‘Smart’ holograms, which are currently being tested to monitor diabetes, and could be used to monitor a wide range of medical and environmental conditions in future, have been developed by researchers.
Responsive holograms that change colour in the presence of certain compounds are being developed into portable medical tests and devices, which could be used to monitor conditions such as diabetes, cardiac function, infections, electrolyte or hormone imbalance easily and inexpensively.
The ‘smart’ holograms can be used to test blood, breath, urine, saliva or tear fluid for a wide range of compounds, such as glucose, alcohol, hormones, drugs, or bacteria. When one of these compounds is present, the hologram changes colour, potentially making the monitoring of various conditions as simple as checking the colour of the hologram against a colour gradient. Clinical trials of the holographic sensors to monitor glucose levels and urinary tract infections in diabetic patients are currently underway at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, part of Cambridge University Hospitals.
The interdisciplinary project by researchers from the University of Cambridge uses a highly absorbent material known as a hydrogel, similar to contact lenses, impregnated with tiny particles of silver. Using a single laser pulse, the silver nanoparticles are formed into three-dimensional holograms of predetermined shapes in a fraction of a second.
When in the presence of certain compounds, the hydrogels either shrink or swell, causing the colour of the hologram to change to any other colour in the entire visible spectrum, the first time that this has been achieved in any hydrogel-based sensor.
A major advantage of the technology is that the holograms can be constructed in a fraction of a second, making the technology highly suitable for mass production. Details of the holographic sensors were recently published in the journal Advanced Optical Materials.
“Currently, a lot of medical testing is performed on large, expensive equipment,” said Ali Yetisen, a PhD student in the Department of Chemical Engineering & Biotechnology, who led the research. “While these sorts of inexpensive, portable tests aren’t meant to replace a doctor, holograms could enable people to easily monitor their own health, and could be useful for early diagnosis, which is critical for so many conditions.”
The holographic sensors produced by the Cambridge team are much faster, easier and cheaper to produce than current technologies – it is estimated that a single sensor would cost just ten pence to make, which would make it particularly useful in the developing world, where the costs of current glucose tests can be prohibitive. The entire sensing process is reversible, and the same sensor may be reused many times, after which it may be easily disposed of.
The Latest on: Holographic diagnostics
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Holographic diagnostics” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Holographic diagnostics
- Quest Diagnostics Reviewson May 3, 2024 at 5:01 pm
I needed to cancel an appointment. Responded to their reminder, choosing the option to cancel. System immediately locked me out for 24 hours. No reason indicated. Could be that I entered cell ...
- Accelerate Diagnostics Inc AXDXon May 2, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Morningstar Quantitative Ratings for Stocks are generated using an algorithm that compares companies that are not under analyst coverage to peer companies that do receive analyst-driven ratings ...
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographeron April 29, 2024 at 5:00 pm
A diagnostic medical sonographer could be answering the question "Is it a boy or a girl?" as well as a host of other life-changing medical questions with the help of ultrasound technology.
- Holographic displays offer a glimpse into an immersive futureon April 24, 2024 at 3:29 am
Holographic images have real depth because ... The work was supported by Princeton University’s Imaging and Analysis Center and the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology’s ...
- Screen Innovations Transforms Visual Experiences with CarbonBlack Holographic Screenson April 15, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Say goodbye to ordinary displays and embrace a new era of visual communication, where the impossible becomes possible with CarbonBlack Holographic. Whether staging, shows, levitating signage, branding ...
- Imaging Science Bachelor of Science Degreeon April 9, 2024 at 5:00 pm
RIT’s imaging science bs combines physics, math, computer science, and engineering to develop cutting-edge imaging systems for satellites, drones, AR/VR, and more. Imaging science is the study of the ...
- Dementia’s next test: New Alzheimer’s diagnostics are comingon April 9, 2024 at 10:20 am
New drugs for Alzheimer’s disease have opened up a secondary market: diagnostics. Up to this point, doctors have relied on invasive tests like positron-emission tomography (PET) scans and ...
- University of Shanghai Sci&Tech develops new holography approachon April 8, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Holographic displays offer a promising avenue for achieving lifelike 3D reproductions with continuous depth sensation, holding potential applications in fields such as entertainment, medical imaging, ...
- Precision Diagnostics Can Save Money In Healthcare: What’s Holding Them Back?on April 8, 2024 at 3:02 pm
Biomarker diagnostic tests in precision medicine can stratify patient sub-populations into ... [+] responders versus non-responders. Precision medicine’s promise is selecting the right drug for ...
- Advancing real-time 3D holographic display: A breakthrough in computer-generated holographyon April 8, 2024 at 1:59 pm
Holographic displays offer a promising avenue ... holding potential applications in fields such as entertainment, medical imaging, and virtual reality. However, the conventional methods for ...
via Bing News