Fundamentals and Feasibility of Continuous Protein Monitoring
Abstract
The U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force have made significant investments and advances in understanding how chemical biomarkers circulating in the body can be used to measure in real-time human performance status, injury-infection, and toxin exposure. These same efforts are now conclusively revealing that continuous biomarker monitoring will mostly likely be achieved via tiny needle or microneedle sensors inserted into the human dermis. However, this potential path to success has only been demonstrated for small molecule biomarkers such as metabolites and drugs, which easily pass from blood into the interstitial fluid inside human dermis. As a result, major fundamental gap exists in both biofluid knowledge and technology for continuous monitoring of much-larger biomarker molecules like proteins. This knowledge gap is unfortunate, because it is well known that protein biomarkers offer important insights into performance and health status. The objective of this proposal is the first-ever focused study to answer a critically important fundamental question- is continuous monitoring of proteins even feasible. This proposal will answer this question via two aims that span the most pressing questions from both a biology (Aim 1) and technology perspective (Aim 2). Aim 1 will create new fundamental knowledge on the biological feasibility of continuously measuring proteins in the body, including quantification of protein dilution vs. molecular weight and vs. confounding factors such as local skin inflammation or temperature. Aim 2 will create new fundamental knowledge on the technological feasibility of continuously measuring proteins in the body, including quantification of sensor fouling and its effect on sensor accuracy over periods of days to weeks. This work is expected to build on previous AFOSR funded work which has shown that the human body may ultimately impact technology design more than the rapid advance of technology itself.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Mar 07, 2024
- Source ID
- FA95502310602
Entities
People
- Jason Heikenfeld
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- United States Air Force
- University of Cincinnati