Wearable sensor-actuator microsystems for the continuous monitoring of reproductive hormones during assisted fertilization - WEREPRO

用于在辅助受精过程中连续监测生殖激素的可穿戴传感器执行器微系统 - WEREPRO

• 批准号: 527789338
• 负责人: Professor Dr. Gianaurelio Cuniberti
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: B CUBE - Center for Molecular Bioengineering
• 依托单位国家: 德国
• 项目类别: Research Grants
• 资助国家: 德国
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gepris.dfg.de/gepris/projekt/527789338?language=en
• 关键词: Wearable; sensor; actuator; microsystems; continuous

Hormonal-related changes are one of the main causes of problems with pregnancy planning. Many fertility treatments include hormone injections and periodic hormone measurements in blood, in order to prevent ovary overstimulation or to determine the suitable insemination or ovule extraction times. Therefore, the levels of injected and circulating hormones need to be precisely controlled. With the support of clinical scientists, this project aims at addressing the challenge of real-time monitoring of reproductive hormones using a wearable device. The consequent timely stimulation and maturation might help to increase the chances of successful pregnancy or ovum retrieval, reducing the need of intravaginal ultrasound inspection or frequent blood extractions. Traditional measurements are based on testing of blood serum, saliva or urine, which impose several limitations in terms of continuous screening. On one hand, frequent measurements in blood would suppose excessive sample collection in an invasive way. On the other hand, saliva can only be used for steroid hormones but not for peptide-based ones. In addition, results obtained from saliva may be affected by exogenous hormones contained in food or by bacteria. Dermal interstitial fluid (ISF) is a suitable alternative, since it can be easily collected with micro-invasive devices and has similar proteomic profile to plasma. Besides, it does not coagulate, making it more secure to preserve sensor operation as well as for patients’ health. The aim of the hereby proposed project is to develop a wearable device equipped with a biosensor for continuous female reproductive hormones monitoring in ISF. The device will help to personalize hormone therapy and reduce the stress the patients undergoing fertility treatments are exposed to. To reach the goal of the project, two partners will join efforts based on their expertise. TU Dresden, with long experience in nanomaterials-based biosensors, will focus on the development of field-effect transistors as highly sensitive nanodevices to transduce the signal of hormone biorecognition. IFW-Dresden, with expertise on smart actuators, will develop microvalve-controlled smart microneedle arrays for the controlled ISF sampling on demand. Both partners will work together on the assembly of the whole device via microfluidics and will clinically validate it in collaboration with clinical scientists. Overall, the project will provide an advantageous approach for female hormone monitoring, reducing invasiveness compared to blood analysis and implementing wearability. Additional future benefits include safety increase by eliminating side effects of excessive hormonal injections, personalizing the therapy, enabling remote patient-clinician interaction by integrating the device into an Internet of Things Hub system and the creation of digital twins combining the data with other vital parameters, all with a positive impact toward successful infertility treatments.

激素相关的变化是怀孕计划问题的主要原因之一。许多生育治疗包括激素注射和定期测量血液中的激素，以防止卵巢过度刺激或确定合适的授精或胚珠提取时间。因此，需要精确控制注射和循环激素的水平。在临床科学家的支持下，该项目旨在解决使用可穿戴设备实时监测生殖激素的挑战。随后的及时刺激和成熟可能有助于增加成功怀孕或取卵的机会，减少阴道超声检查或频繁抽血的需要。传统的测量是基于血清、唾液或尿液的测试，这在连续筛查方面施加了一些限制。一方面，血液中的频繁测量将假设以侵入性方式进行过度的样本收集。另一方面，唾液只能用于类固醇激素，而不能用于肽类激素。此外，从唾液中获得的结果可能会受到食物中含有的外源性激素或细菌的影响。真皮间质液（ISF）是一种合适的替代品，因为它可以很容易地用微创设备收集，并具有类似的蛋白质组学谱的血浆。此外，它不会凝结，使其更安全地保护传感器的操作以及患者的健康。本项目的目的是开发一种配备生物传感器的可穿戴设备，用于连续监测ISF中的女性生殖激素。该设备将有助于个性化激素治疗，并减少接受生育治疗的患者所面临的压力。为了实现该项目的目标，两个合作伙伴将根据他们的专业知识共同努力。德累斯顿工业大学在基于纳米材料的生物传感器方面拥有长期经验，将专注于开发场效应晶体管作为高灵敏度的纳米器件，以识别激素生物识别信号。IFW-Dresden拥有智能执行器方面的专业知识，将开发微阀控制的智能微针阵列，用于按需控制ISF采样。双方将通过微流体技术共同组装整个设备，并与临床科学家合作进行临床验证。总的来说，该项目将为女性激素监测提供一种有利的方法，与血液分析相比，减少了侵入性，并实现了可穿戴性。其他未来的好处包括通过消除过量激素注射的副作用来提高安全性，个性化治疗，通过将设备集成到物联网集线器系统中实现远程患者-临床医生互动，以及创建将数据与其他重要参数相结合的数字双胞胎，所有这些都对成功的不孕症治疗产生积极影响。