An investigation into the feasibility of fabrication of an exhaled gas acetone sensor array using inkjet printed nanomaterials for measuring diabetic ketoacidosis

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a dangerous condition and the leading cause of hospitalization and the main cause of morbidity and death in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Earlier diagnosis of blood ketones facilitates the prevention of ketoacidosis, as well as prompt treatment. Most ketone testing is routinely undertaken using dipstick test strips for urinalysis. Urine ketone strips are semi-quantitative and patients find it unpleasant and inconvenient to provide a urine sample. Quantitative exhaled acetone detection and analysis is an ideal alternative method. In this feasibility project we propose to investigate the feasibility of fabrication of an exhaled gas acetone sensor array using inkjet printed nanomaterials (nano-carbon or metal oxide based) and measure their initial performance. Our approach would be to use highly sensitive nanomaterials and proprietary organic polymer coatings which are highly selective and insensitive to humidity.