Researchers from the University of Burgos have developed a
smart material which changes colour based on the amount of iron in a fluid,
whether it be water, wine or blood serum. Afterwards, if the result is
photographed with a digital camera such as those on mobile phones, the
concentration of this metal can be quantified without the need for chemical
analysis.
Soon, it could be possible to find out whether a person has
a blood iron deficiency or overload with a mere pinch of the finger and a
mobile phone. All that is needed is a device that can separate blood serum and
the film of material that chemists from the University of Burgos have recently
invented.