This Gadget Tracks Acetaminophen Levels to Help Avert Overdose
Rahul Kalvapalle — April 18, 2023 — Tech
References: agencia.fapesp.br & eurekalert.org
A group of scientists and researchers at the Sao Carlos Institute of Physics and the Sao Carlos Institute of Chemistry at the University of Sao Paolo over in Brazil have developed a portable and precise gadget that functions as a drug tracker capable of monitoring the extent of acetaminophen painkillers consumed by users in order to prevent overdose.
Acetaminophen overdose is known to be a top cause of liver failure, with researchers previously pointing to the fact that many people are unaware of the risks of taking too much of the popular medication. This is why the researchers have developed this portable drug tracker that uses inexpensive sensors that make use of drug oxidation to monitor levels, before informing patients about their levels of acetaminophen.
“Low-cost electrochemical devices are increasingly seen as an attractive alternative for therapeutic drug monitoring thanks to their analytical characteristics, such as rapid response, potential miniaturization, portability, simplicity, ease of use, versatility, relatively low instrumentation cost, and the possibility of in situ real-time analysis," noted study co-author Paolo Augusto Raymundo Pereira.
With the team having already developed a prototype, the next steps will be to carry out trials and collecting quality data before then partnering up with a company in order to work towards mass-production, marketing and sale of the device.
Image Credit: Paulo Augusto Raymundo Pereira
Acetaminophen overdose is known to be a top cause of liver failure, with researchers previously pointing to the fact that many people are unaware of the risks of taking too much of the popular medication. This is why the researchers have developed this portable drug tracker that uses inexpensive sensors that make use of drug oxidation to monitor levels, before informing patients about their levels of acetaminophen.
“Low-cost electrochemical devices are increasingly seen as an attractive alternative for therapeutic drug monitoring thanks to their analytical characteristics, such as rapid response, potential miniaturization, portability, simplicity, ease of use, versatility, relatively low instrumentation cost, and the possibility of in situ real-time analysis," noted study co-author Paolo Augusto Raymundo Pereira.
With the team having already developed a prototype, the next steps will be to carry out trials and collecting quality data before then partnering up with a company in order to work towards mass-production, marketing and sale of the device.
Image Credit: Paulo Augusto Raymundo Pereira
Trend Themes
1. Portable Drug Trackers - The development of portable drug trackers can help avert overdose and promote safer drug consumption.
2. Low-cost Electrochemical Devices - The utilization of low-cost electrochemical devices can revolutionize therapeutic drug monitoring and analysis.
3. Real-time Monitoring - The integration of real-time monitoring systems can provide valuable insights into drug consumption and guide patients on safe drug use.
Industry Implications
1. Pharmaceuticals - Pharmaceutical companies can leverage the development of these drug trackers to offer a safer and more reliable product to consumers.
2. Healthcare - Healthcare providers can utilize these portable drug trackers to provide more accurate drug monitoring for their patients.
3. Technology - The integration of low-cost electrochemical devices can provide a disruptive innovation opportunity for the technology industry to innovate better solutions for drug monitoring.
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