A Chronically Implantable Microsensor Array for Monitoring Biomarkers Relevant to

描述（由申请人提供）：肥胖是美国最流行和日益增长的疾病之一。流行的体重控制方法，如运动计划或低碳水化合物饮食，未能阻止美国肥胖的流行。当能量摄入长期超过能量消耗时，肥胖就会发生，只有当个体通过改变行为来纠正这种能量不平衡时，肥胖才会得到解决。这种行为改变未能发生的一个原因是，在典型的日常生活条件下，目前很难监测行为改变对能量平衡各组成部分的影响。因此，我们建议开发一种可植入的微传感器阵列，该阵列可用于方便地监测与碳水化合物和脂肪利用相关的生物标志物，而不会干扰日常生活活动。脂肪和碳水化合物是人体两种主要的燃料来源，它们的相对利用率取决于年龄、饮食、运动强度和健康水平等因素。该传感器阵列可用于在休息和运动时持续监测体内葡萄糖、pH值和二氧化碳/碳酸氢盐的全身水平。我们假设这种传感器足够灵敏，可以在短期和长期的基础上检测到饮食脂肪摄入量的大幅增加（或减少）。在提议的工作中，我们将开发、制造和测试一个基于智能水凝胶和微机械压力传感器的植入式传感器平台，该平台将连续测量葡萄糖、pH值和二氧化碳，具有高长期稳定性和生物相容性。所提出的平衡传感器阵列将由四个水凝胶组成，在独立的微腔中，根据葡萄糖、二氧化碳和pH的浓度成比例地膨胀，第四个水凝胶作为参考。压力传感器可以捕捉到封闭井中水凝胶体积增大的趋势。这个项目将在三个具体目标下完成。第一个重点是水凝胶的开发和长期测试。第二个具体目标是开发SiC平台，第三个具体目标是生物相容性涂层测试和长期体外测试。这个项目将由实现目标所需领域的专家团队非常努力地进行。该项目旨在开发一种可植入的微传感器，以长期持续监测人体的新陈代谢。一个人可以通过一个小的门诊手术植入这种传感器，它不会妨碍日常活动。这样的传感器将花费30到50美元，并极大地帮助人们对抗肥胖和试图恢复能量平衡。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Obesity is one of the most popular and growing diseases in America. Popular approaches to weight control such as exercise plans or low carbohydrate diets have failed to halt the American obesity epidemic. Obesity occurs when there is a persistent long-term excess in energy intake over energy expenditure, and will only be resolved when the individual makes behavioral changes that correct this energy imbalance. One reason that such behavioral changes fail to occur is that it is currently very difficult to monitor the effects of behavioral changes on the various components of energy balance under typical daily life conditions. Hence we propose the development of an implantable microsensor array that could be used to conveniently monitor biomarkers relevant to carbohydrate and fat utilization without interfering with daily life activities. Fats and carbohydrates are the body's two major sources of fuel, and their relative rates of utilization depend on factors such as age, diet, exercise intensity, and fitness level. The proposed sensor array could be used to continuously monitor systemic levels of glucose, pH, and pCO2/bicarbonate in the body both at rest and during exercise. We hypothesize that such a sensor will be sensitive enough to detect substantial increases (or decreases) in dietary fat consumption both on short term and also long term basis. In the proposed work we will develop, fabricate, and test an implantable sensor platform based on smart hydrogels and micromachined pressure sensors that would continuously measure glucose, pH, and CO2 with high long term stability and biocompatibility. The proposed equilibrium sensor array will consist of four hydrogels, in independent microcavities, that respond by swelling proportionally to the concentrations of glucose, CO2 and to the pH, the fourth hydrogel acts as a reference. The tendency of hydrogels to increase in volume in confined wells is captured by the pressure transducers. This project will be accomplished in three specific aims. The first one focuses on development and long term testing of hydrogels. Second specific aim focuses on developing the SiC platform and the third specific aim on biocompatibility coating tests and long term in vitro tests. This project will be conducted very diligently by the team of experts in the fields necessary to accomplish the goal. This project is designed to develop an implantable microsensor to continuously monitor the body's metabolism for a long term. A person may be implanted with such a sensor through a minor out patient surgery and it will not hinder the daily activities in anyway. Such a sensor would cost $30 to $50 and greatly benefit people fighting obesity and trying to restore energy balance.