According to a recent report, a silk microchip has been produced, which can be embedded below the skin of the patient. It will be instrumental in monitoring the blood instantaneously.

The microchip has been made by Peter Domachuk, a physicist from the University of Sydney. The chip comprises of silk fibers that can measure the quantity of chemicals in the blood. Thus, physicians will not have to wait for the blood samples to come from the lab.

According to Domachuk, silk has many qualities that cannot be found in other materials. He further adds that the qualities of silk which make it compatible for use in the microchip are the sturdiness and transparency.

Silk can be used to hold materials like electronics. It can also combine with enzymes, proteins and other biomolecules.

Hemoglobin has already been put into the chip by the team. This has been done to check the level of oxygen in the blood .The team is also planning to put some more proteins in it so that they can test for a broad range of chemicals.

Domachuk also states that silk does not cause an immune response in the body and thus is ideal for use in microchips.

It had reportedly taken three years for the team to come up with the microchip.