Kalmar: Biosensors measure sugar concentration in food and drink production

10 Oct 2007 | News

Licensing opportunity

Henrik Engström of Kalmar University, Sweden, has designed biosensors for metering the concentration of sugars in food stuff, including a sensor for measuring maltose in oat beverages. The technology could be developed to monitor blood sugar in diabetics.

Biosensors can monitor rapid changes in concentrations of sugars if the antibodies in the sensor bind quickly enough to sugars in the sample. By selecting appropriate antibodies Engstrom has developed biosensors that he says are faster than many other instruments, and open up the possibility of continuously monitoring changes in sugar concentration.

Engstrom focused on developing biosensors that can register changes in the concentration of maltose, a sugar used in brewing and other parts of the foodstuffs industry. He has also evaluated an antibody that shows potential for use in blood sugar analyses in diabetics.


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