Sensors and biosensors, health guardians

Did you know that every day you interact with a variety of sensors? What if I told you that there are sensors that take care of your health? Yes, you read that right: sensors and biosensors are an integral part of today's healthcare technology.

First, let's understand what is a sensor? It is a device that captures a stimulus, processes it and emits a signal in response, classified into physical and chemical. Remember the mercury thermometer? That's an example of a physical sensor. Other sensors, such as pregnancy tests or COVID-19 tests, are chemical.

A chemical sensor, for example, interacts with the substance to be analyzed, called "analyte", this is done by the "sensing element", this element can be biochemical or biological components (enzymes, antibodies, among others) and in that case it becomes a biosensor. For the interaction to occur, the detection element must be selective to the analyte, i.e. it must react as well as possible with it.

Today, biosensors allow us to continuously monitor our health. A common example is the blood oxygen monitors used in hospitals and homes to detect rapid changes in oxygen levels. Others monitor blood sugar levels, blood pressure or heart rate.

Best of all, innovation continues, with flexible sensors opening up new possibilities. Teams of engineers are working on sensors that look like temporary tattoos, capable of measuring blood alcohol levels through sweat and transmitting the information to a mobile device. Other groups are developing devices to monitor diseases such as cystic fibrosis. At the University of Minnesota, in the United States, a group of researchers has created inks to print flexible and sensitive 3D sensors that can detect human movements or even warn of chemical hazards in the environment.

The U.S.-based National Institutes of Health (NIH) supports research into the use of sensors; for example, Dr. Zhenyu Li, a researcher at the University of Science and Technology of China specializing in microscale physical sciences, is developing a sensor that can detect formaldehyde, an air pollutant that can trigger asthma. Dr. Natalie Wisniewski, a researcher at the medical device company "profusa," which focuses on the study of tissue-biomaterial interactions, is developing miniature sensors that can be injected under the skin to track chemicals in the body without drawing blood. Researchers are constantly working on the development of new biosensors, seeking a more preventive approach to medicine.

New developments in flexible, miniature sensors, which can be worn on the skin or even injected into our bodies, offer a vision of a future where every individual can have unprecedented control over their health. Sensors allow us to know, interpret and respond to changes in our bodies in real time. In effect, we are becoming the most informed and equipped caretakers of our health.

The future of sensors and biosensors is limitless, as is their potential to change our lives. They will enable us to detect disease earlier, respond more quickly to health problems and ultimately live longer, healthier lives. This is just the beginning and what is to come will surprise us. The age of biosensors has arrived and we are excited to see what the future will bring. After all, what can't be measured, can't be improved. Welcome to the age of sensors!