Researchers from the Korea Institute of Materials Science have produced a quick and reliable wearable sensor able to provide on-site drug detection. Their optical sensor can detect narcotics in sweat through the use of nanomaterial technology to amplify the optical signal of illegal drugs to their flexible and wearable material.

Standard drug testing involves a complicated approach to extracting suspected drug components from biologic specimens such as blood, hair and urine. These are assessed by gas or liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, which requires much time and needs space for the instrument and skilled technicians. There are more rapid kits that detect drugs in urine, but they only detect a single component in a single test and have low sensitivity.

Read more…

Published by Laurie Donaldson on February 18th, 2021