B1.2 Smartwatch tracks medication levels to personalize treatments

A wearable technology that analyzes the chemicals found in sweat could be incorporated into a more personalized approach to medicine—where an ideal drug and dosages can be tailored to an individual.

The technology is based on a sensor that detects the level of a particular medication in sweat droplets.

The study tracked the effect of acetaminophen on individuals over the period of a few hours.

First, the researchers stimulated sweat glands on the wrist by applying a small electric current.

This allowed the researchers to detect changes in body chemistry, without needing subjects to work up a sweat.

As different drugs each have their own unique electrochemical signature, the sensor can be designed to look for the level of a particular medication at any given time.

The study's lead author, Shuyu Lin, a UCLA doctoral student and member of Emaminejad's Interconnected and Integrated Bioelectronics Lab, said the technology is a game-changer and a significant step forward for realizing personalized medicine.

The technology can be used to monitor medication adherence and drug abuse.

The technology could be particularly important for individuals with mental health issues.

The patients could benefit from such easy-to-use, noninvasive monitoring tools, while doctors could see how the medication is doing in the patient.