Ketone bodies detection: Wearable and mobile sensors for personalized medicine and nutrition

Abstract

The development of mobile and wearable sensing devices for continuous ketone detection has received tremendous recent attention. These devices have opened the doors to personalized medicine applications related to the management of ketosis and diabetic ketoacidosis and to personalized nutrition and wellness (particularly in connection to ketogenic diet). This review discusses the importance of ketone bodies, past and recent advances in decentralized ketone sensing strategies towards such important biomedical and nutrition applications. Special attention is given to electrochemical sensing platforms for on-site and wearable detection of β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), one of the dominant physiological ketone bodies, and to the challenges of using the corresponding dehydrogenase enzyme for extended on-body BHB monitoring. Future trends, opportunities, and challenges towards frequent home self-testing and continuous monitoring of ketone bodies for personalized healthcare, nutrition, and wellness are discussed in connection to mobile and wearable devices coupled to artificial intelligence towards supporting dietary behavior change.