New breath sensor can diagnose diabetes in minutes, researchers show

Diagnosing diabetes may soon become as straightforward as breathing into a container, thanks to the new sensor developed by the Cheng-led team. The device — detailed in Chemical Engineering Journal — can be used to diagnose diabetes and prediabetes on the spot using a breath sample, all in a few minutes.

This could become a convenient alternative to current diagnostic methods that require lab analysis. Instead of measuring glucose in the blood, this sensor measures acetone level in a person's breath. While humans exhale acetone as a byproduct of burning fat, acetone levels above 1.8 parts per million indicate diabetes.

While we have sensors that can detect glucose in sweat, these require that we induce sweat through exercise, chemicals, or a sauna, which are not always practical or convenient. This sensor only requires that you exhale into a bag, dip the sensor in and wait a few minutes for results. — Cheng.

To create this sensor, the team used a laser to burn a carbon-containing material into a very porous graphene material, a process they likened to toasting bread until it is all black. To ensure, their sensor is specifically tuned for detecting acetone, they combined the graphene with zinc oxide and added a selective membrane that blocks water while allowing acetone to pass through.

The team is now working towards an improved sensor that can be used directly under the nose or mask, eliminating the need for a bag. They also plan to adapt the sensor for other kinds of tests.