I2I Phase I: Reagentless sensor technologies for peripheral biochemical monitoring

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Wearable sensor systems present a unique opportunity for the continual monitoring of vital signs and health status of an individual. These systems can be integrated into common items such as clothing, contact lenses, bandages, and watches to detect and quantify analytes from mucosal membranes or biological fluids. One major challenge to fully realize these systems is the development of platforms that allow for reagent-free analysis of complex biomolecules such as proteins, nucleic acids, and metabolites in real time. Electrochemical sensors are a powerful platform for environmental or biological monitoring based on inexpensive instrumentation and straightforward measurements of electrical currents. As small (nA) currents can be reliably measured, low detection thresholds are feasible. Several challenges remain for its implementation in practical devices and generalized for all types of protein analytes. We recently developed an enzyme-free and regent-free electrochemical reporter system that exhibits levels of sensitivity suitable for analysis of biological samples without the need for pre-processing. In this project we will integrate these electrochemical sensors into biocompatible probes for in situ biochemical monitoring. We will test the developed device in an animal model of diabetes demonstrating continual and reagent free monitoring of insulin levels from interstitial fluids. Requisite hardware and software for controlling the wearable monitoring device will be developed and tested in the project. The project deliverables will have a large impact on the Canadian population with potential impact in monitoring the health of providing continual biomarker monitoring in healthcare for chronic conditions.