Tuesday, August 10, 2010

injectable glowing hydrogel beads with function

http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2010-08/life-beans-could-be-made-implantable-glucose-monitor


this is so amazing!  Some scientists in Japan are working on a project to indicate blood sugar for use with diabetics.  as the bloog glucose drops the ear would fluoresce less.  the problem right now is that after alittle while the body recognizes the "life beans" ("Beans" stands for Bioelectrical Mechanical Autonomous Nano Systems." ) as foreign matter and attached proteins to it, dimming the light.

i know there are various zoonoses (such as malaria) wherein the parasite covers itself with proteins of the host to avoid detection by the immune system...  maybe this could be brought into play somehow?  like pick an organism to put in the bean which desires a particular protein which does not obstruct light.

interesting stuff.



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