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World-first diabetes test to be produced in Hunter

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People living with diabetes may soon have a pain-free way to test their blood sugar levels, thanks to a world-first device created at the University of Newcastle.

Following a $6.3 million federal government funding promise, a manufacturing facility for the needle-free device is set to be established in the Hunter and in production by 2023.

The Saliva Glucose Biosensor test is the result of twenty years of research and will benefit the more than 460 million people living with diabetes world-wide.

Funded under the medical products priority as part of the Modern Manufacturing Initiative, the device is said to bring global recognition to the Hunter.

University of Newcastle physicist and research leader, Professor Paul Dastoor said his team at the Centre for Organic Electronics (COE) were hoping to bring a purpose-built manufacturing facility to the region.

“To see the biosensor on shelves, changing lives, will be immensely satisfying, it’s why we do the work we do,” he said.

“With more than 460 million people testing their glucose levels regularly, this is a technology with huge demand, and the potential to create significant high-tech jobs growth in our region and beyond.”

Professor Dastoor said construction was set to begin on the facility later this year “with the first devices due to roll off the production line by 2023.”

The Saliva Glucose Biosensor replaces finger-prick testing for type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

It represents the first major innovation since the blood glucose test was developed in the 1960’s.

Professor Dastoor attributes the new device, in part, to inspiration from his wife, who as a primary school teacher helped young children in her care to monitor their blood glucose levels.

“It’s a heartbreaking scenario when the lunch bell rings and everyone runs to the playground, bar an unfortunate few who stay back to surrender their finger for blood testing at every meal time,” Professor Dastoor said.

“Our vision was to create a world where no one needs to bleed in order to eat.”

With saliva glucose concentrations 100 times lower than in blood, this was easier said than done, he admits.

“One of our key challenges was the sheer unavailability of glucose in saliva,” he said.

“It exists in minute concentrations, so you need to develop an incredibly powerful platform to detect it. Saliva also contains a plethora of other substances, so you’ve then got to tune out a lot of ‘noise’ to ensure results are accurate.”

Professor Dastoor said the sensor, similar in size to a stick of chewing gum and considerably thinner, was incredibly powerful, detecting substances that exist in saliva in minute concentrations.

“With this highly sensitive platform, we can now detect glucose at the levels found in saliva, for the first time.”

Coated with a natural enzyme – Glucose Oxidase, the biosensor interacts with saliva, producing a reaction that generates an electrical current. 

The current can then be detected and measured to reveal highly accurate glucose levels which could be delivered via a smartphone app and the data stored in the cloud.

Professor Dastoor said the sensor could also be developed for application across 130 indications including tumour markers, hormones and allergens.

“The biosensor is a ‘platform technology’, which means it will be widely applicable to detect a variety of substances that identify a range of diseases,” he said. 

“We’re already looking for the substances that identify cancer, hormones and allergies.”

Professor Paul Dastoor believes the sensor could help with new diagnostic tests urgently needed to help eradicate COVID-19. 

Currently developed in a small-scale factory within the University’s Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources (NIER), a dedicated manufacturing facility for biosensors in the Hunter will enable Professor Dastoor and his team to dramatically ramp up production to meet global demand.

The saliva glucose biosensor was listed on the NASDAQ on Christmas Eve in 2020 under GBS Inc.

It is the first University of Newcastle innovation to appear on an international stock exchange, raising $27.4 million at its Initial Public Offering. 

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