A team of nanoengineers from California developed high-tech bio-inks that react with several chemicals. In their press release, the team revealed that the ink was filled shelf ball point pens that can be used to draw sensors anywhere. The sensors can be drawn on the skin to measure glucose. The ink can also measure pollution and reacts to other chemicals as well.

"Our new biocatalytic pen technology, based on novel enzymatic inks, holds considerable promise for a broad range of applications on site and in the field," said Joseph Wang, the lead researcher and the chairman of the Department of NanoEngineering at the University of California, San Diego. The ink can be used on the leaves to check pollution. Moreover, the researchers stated that it could be used on building walls to monitor toxic gas pollutants and on battlefields to detect explosives and nerve agents.

Polyethylene glycol, graphite powder, chitosan, an antibacterial agent and xylitol, a sugar substitute were used to create the ink. All components have a specific purpose. For instance, graphite powder was used to make the ink conducive to electricity. The main aim was to use chemicals and biochemicals that are not harmful to plant and humans and can be stored in various conditions for long periods.

Wang and his team was investigating ways by which glucose testing could be made simpler. They developed non invasive glucose sensors in the form of ink which they loaded onto pens and used on transparent paper. The paper had electrodes on it. When the subject finger was pricked and the blood sample was placed on the sensor, the ink reacted to it and the electrode measured the glucose level. A glucose measuring device was used to record it. The ink was then wiped off and then another pattern was drawn on it. Thus, the ink was used over and over as a glucose sensor.

Researchers state that the ink in one pen can be used about 500 times. They even made it possible for the ink to be used on the body itself and, “a Bluetooth enabled device controls the electrodes called a potentiostat, to gather data.” The ink can also be used to detect pollutants and harmful chemicals. It can be modified to react to many pollutants which include heavy metals and pesticides.

The researchers are now working on finding out how the sensors work in various conditions like extreme temperatures, high exposure to sunlight and varying humid conditions.

A paper on the newly developed ink is published in the February issue of Advanced Healthcare Materials.

Watch the video of the sensor functions here.

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