A research team at Penn State University has developed a sensor that diagnoses diabetes by analyzing breath samples in just minutes.
This breakthrough technology detects acetone levels in breath, with concentrations above 1.8 parts per million indicating diabetes – a significant advancement considering one in five of the 37 million American adults with diabetes remain undiagnosed.
Professor Huanyu “Larry” Cheng, who leads the research team, explained: “This sensor only requires that you exhale into a bag, dip the sensor in and wait a few minutes for results.
” The innovation lies in the design and materials – primarily laser-induced graphene combined with zinc oxide, creating a selective detection system for acetone molecules while blocking moisture through a special membrane barrier.
Researchers are working to improve the technology so it can be used directly under the nose or attached inside masks.
They also hope to explore how breath acetone levels change with diet and exercise, potentially expanding applications beyond diabetes diagnosis.
The research, published in Chemical Engineering Journal, was supported by the U.S. National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation.
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