BITS-Pilani Hyderabad research team unveils non-invasive diabetes monitoring device
BITS-Pilani Hyderabad research team unveils non-invasive diabetes monitoring device
Researchers at the Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani, Hyderabad campus, have have come out with a Machine Learning (ML)-assisted non-invasive portable device to detect and manage diabetes.
The innovative product aims to eliminate the need for painful needles for finger-pricking and enables simultaneous monitoring of critical diabetes biomarkers such as glucose, lactate, uric acid and hydrogen peroxide using sweat or urine.
It offers a cost-effective alternative for monitoring diabetes risks and complications. It is particularly valuable for individuals managing type 1 & 2 diabetes, said principal investigator Sanket Goel of MEMS, Microfluidics, and Nanoelectronics Lab, on Monday (January 13, 2025).
The research team included PhD scholar Abhishek Kumar and an intern from Oakridge International School, Bachupally, Shashwat Goel. The team combined the advanced biosensing technique Electro-Chemi-Luminescence (ECL), and ML algorithms for ensuring accurate and reliable results by successfully developing a standalone handheld platform to connect any smartphone with an app allowing continuous monitoring of biomarkers.
In ECL, light is emitted during the electrochemical reaction involving excited luminophores. After certain chemical reaction, diabetes biomarkers trigger signals which are highly sensitive, specific, and measurable, enabling precise glucose detection. ECL’s efficiency and low background noise make it ideal for non-invasive diabetes monitoring, said Mr.Goel.
The projected cost of the mini-portable platform is ₹700–₹800 per unit and cost per test using different polymeric cartridges (3D printed, ink-jet printed, laser-written) could be just ₹10 in bulk production. Their integration with digital platforms enables continuous monitoring and better glycaemic control, he explained.
“We expect the device to become a frontrunner in providing accessible and efficient diagnostics real time. It offers immense potential for commercialisation and widespread adoption in healthcare systems worldwide,” said Mr. Goel.
The pioneering research study has been published in Computers in Biology and Medicine Journal by Elsevier and supported by the Telangana State Council of Science & Technology & the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.
