Cortisol without intermediaries

The new sensor detects the level of stress hormones in real time

Svetlana Maslova, Hi-tech+

The development of American scientists opens up new prospects in the creation of wearable devices for assessing daily stress levels. Many people call chronic stress an integral part of modern life, but this is fundamentally wrong. Uncontrolled stress on a regular basis is a risk factor for the development of panic attacks, heart attack and many other critical conditions.

Cortisol and other stress hormones regulate many aspects of a person's physical and mental health. Scientists from Rutgers University sought to develop a way to track changes in cortisol levels in a person's daily life in order to control stress levels and prevent chronic overexertion.

The diagnostic approach is based on a biosensor, thinner than a human hair, which can detect biomarkers in the blood even at low concentrations, according to a press release of New Microchip Sensor Measures Stress Hormones from Drop of Blood.

Article by Mahmoodi et al. Single-step label-free nanowell immunoassay accurately quantifies serum stress hormones within minutes published in the journal Science Advances – VM.

When testing the nanosensor on 65 blood samples, scientists were able to detect cortisol molecules directly without the need to use any other molecules or particles as tags. The test gave an accurate and reliable result in real time.

"This technology will allow controlling hormone levels and better coping with chronic inflammation and stress at a lower cost," said co–author Mehdi Javanmard.

The technology has the potential to adapt to non-invasive measurement of cortisol in fluids such as saliva and urine. This means that in the future a person will be able to control his emotional state with the help of a compact wearable device, for example, a bracelet, and respond to overload in time.

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