New microchip sensor measures stress hormones from drop of blood
June 30, 2021
by Rutgers University
A Rutgers-led team of researchers has developed a microchip that can measure stress hormones in real time from a drop of blood.
Cortisol and other stress hormones regulate many aspects of our physical and mental health, including sleep quality. High levels of cortisol can result in poor sleep, which increases stress that can contribute to panic attacks, heart attacks and other ailments.
Currently, measuring cortisol takes costly and cumbersome laboratory setups, so the Rutgers-led team looked for a way to monitor its natural fluctuations in daily life and provide patients with feedback that allows them to receive the right treatment at the right time.
