A graphene sensor may warn of asthma attacks

Scientists have created a sensor based on graphene, which monitors and helps to fight asthma and other respiratory diseases, Zee News reports. The sensor will identify an asthmatic attack at the early stage thereby preventing hospitalization and even death. The idea is that a person with a lung disease will carry the sensor on his neck or wrist. Another option - a person will periodically blow into the device to predict the onset of asthma attack.

How it works? Scientists suggest to analyze the biomarkers in a condensate formed from exhaled air. By means of condensate you can identify and understand asthma at the molecular level. The scientists have designed a small electrochemical sensor that accurately estimates the nitrite in the condensate of exhaled air with the help of reduced graphene oxide.

Reduced graphene oxide is not afraid of corrosion and has electrical properties, as well as the ability to find biomarkers accurately. The level of nitrite is a reliable marker of inflammation in the respiratory tract. In the case when the sensor detects high nitrite concentrations, a person will have time to take the medicine and prevent an asthma attack. In the future, scientists want to create a portable version of the system, which can be launched onto the market in the next five years. It is also planned to expand the list of biomarkers found by the sensor.

Source: Zee News.