No more needles for blood tests?

Non-invasive technique being developed at UB

By PAULA WITHERELL
News Services Editor

"We are developing non-invasive techniques for detecting glucose and other compounds in the blood by analyzing two specific substances-tears and subcutaneous fluid, a substance that naturally comes through the skin," said Luis A. Colon, principal investigator and UB assistant professor of chemistry.

"If we can establish the natural correlation between the amount of glucose in the blood and the amount in these two fluids, I envision a sensor that can be attached to the skin to monitor the blood-sugar level of diabetics without ever puncturing the skin for a blood sample," said Colon, who believes that blood-sugar levels also may easily be obtained by analyzing tear drops.

This type of sensor, he added, could eventually be available for home use.

For the UB study, collection of subcutaneous fluid from the skin is accomplished with a technique called iontophoretic sampling, which uses a mild electric current applied to the skin to enhance migration of the fluid to the skin's surface for testing. Tear samples are collected in a capillary tube.

"One of the most important aspects of the research is that, once the sample is obtained, we can analyze extremely small quantities of the substance with a technique called capillary electrophoresis," said Colon. He believes this research also will be beneficial to pharmacists and researchers testing the effects of drugs on the body without taking blood samples, as well as allow for more convenient testing of illegal drugs by eliminating urine tests.

The study is providing important learning opportunities for UB students. Michael Gostkowki, who received a bachelor's degree in chemistry from UB in May, has served as Colon's research assistant for two years.

The Whitaker Foundation is a private, nonprofit foundation that primarily supports research and education in biomedical engineering.