Real-time colorimetric biosensor for hydration imbalance in sport activities

• Main Author: Naw Hnin Pwint Phyuson
• Other Authors: Terry W.J. Steele
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2015
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/62054
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Although hydration imbalances such as dehydration and over-hydration are common for sport activities in many parts of the world, real-time feedback devices to monitor hydration levels are not readily available in the market. Available methods of measuring hydration levels are restricted, inconvenient and complicated. Therefore, on-site real-time sensors to monitor hydration levels will be beneficial to individuals participating in endurance sports. Gold nanoparticles are well-known for their unique optical colorimetric sensing ability and are widely studied in many fields. The colour change of gold nanoparticles due to surface plasmon resonance can be observed with naked eye. In this study, artificial sweats with different concentrations of sodium are detected using gold nanoparticles as a colorimetric biosensor to differentiate the difference between normal condition, dehydration and over-hydration conditions. The results show that the colorimetric gold nanoparticle sensor can distinguish the difference between the normal hydration, dehydration and over-hydration by showing three distinct colours.