Researchers from Binghamton University, State University of New York, show how a gold CD’s thin metallic layer can be separated from the rigid plastic and turned into sensors to monitor electrical activity in human hearts and muscles, plus lactate, glucose, pH and oxygen levels. The sensors can communicate with a smartphone via Bluetooth.

Figure 1: Recycled old CDs into flexible wearable biosensors.

Figure 1 shows thatthe skinny metallic layer on a gold CD could be separated from the plastic and changed into sensors that may monitor electrical exercise in human hearts and muscular tissues.

These biosensors will also be used to watch lactate, glucose, pH and oxygen ranges. Additionally, they’ll talk with smartphones utilizing Bluetooth.[2]

The fabrication is said to be completed in 20 to 30 minutes without releasing toxic chemicals or needing expensive equipment, and it costs around $1.50 per device. [1]

Author says, “This sustainable method for upcycling digital waste gives an advantageous research-based waste stream that doesn’t require cutting-edge microfabrication services, costly supplies or high-caliber engineering expertise.” [2]

Michael Brown, a PhD candidate at the university’s Department of Biomedical Engineering, started by looking into earlier studies on biosensors. Author discovered that such sensors still maintained the CD’s stiff construction, which limited their usefulness.

The Binghamton researchers had to first take the metallic coating off the CD’s plastic surface in order to make their version of the sensor.

They did this by using an adhesive tape and chemical procedure. Similar to how a lint roller picks up lint, they first used chemicals to loosen the metal before using adhesive tape to take it off.

The thin metal layer was then shaped into an electronic circuit using a standard Cricut cutter. Electronic cutting tools called Cricut cutters can be used to cut designs from a variety of materials, such as paper, vinyl, cardboard, etc.

The system has only been tested with gold CDs so far, but the researchers intend to replicate the concept with silver CDs, which are more widely used. [3]

References:

1. https://www.theengineer.co.uk/content/news/cds-upcycled-into-flexible-biosensors/
2. https://colorsofindia.media/technology/researchers-recycle-cds-by-turning-them-into-inexpensive-flexible-biosensors/
3. https://www.electronicsforu.com/news/whats-new/from-cds-to-flexible-biosensors

Cite this article:

Sri Vasagi K (2022), New Method to Recycle Old CDs into Flexible Biosensors, AnaTechMaz, pp.67