A wearable platform supporting high-frequency measurements of molecular performance markers
Abstract
Our ability to monitor metabolites, hormones, and other biomarkers indicative of and predictive for human performance has been hamstrung by the lack of generalizable platform technologies capable of measuring the concentrations of arbitrary molecules in vivo, in real-time, and with frequency that is rapid relative to the timescale of biologically relevant fluctuations. That is, although a small number of metabolites (glucose, pyruvate, lactate) can be measured in situ in the body with physiologically-relevant, seconds time resolution, the sensors supporting these measurements rely critically on the specific chemical (enzymatic or redox) reactivity of their target analytes, and thus it is not possible to adapt them to the broader problem of monitoring molecules indicative of human physiological and psychological status. There are, for example, no existing sensors that can monitor hormones, the large majority of metabolites, or any protein biomarkers, all of whose limited reactivity is incompatible with prior in vivo detection schemes. Recently, however, we demonstrated a platform technology, termed electrochemical aptamer- based sensors, that, in contrast to all prior sensing approaches, is independent of the chemical reactivity of its targets, supports seconds resolved molecular measurements of specific molecular targets even when placed in situ in the living body. In support of this claim, we have, to date, validated 10 sensors (measuring a wide range of metabolites, drugs, and proteins) in vivo using a live rodent model. To advance this technology for human performance applications (i.e., to close the remaining “knowledge gap”), we propose here the steps necessary to convert this technology into a wearable, minimally invasive (sub-dermal microneedle) format supporting the convenient, real-time, multi-day monitoring of multiple molecular analytes in humans. The successful outcome of the proposed research program would be the development and initial validation of a platform technology that would promote warfighter resiliency and enhance performance under extreme operational conditions. It will do so by providing real-time, molecular-level read outs of multiple metabolites, hormones and biomarkers indicative of metabolism, health, and stress, thus providing an unprecedented, minute-to-minute window into physiological status via a wireless, wearable, minimally invasive and cost-effective device.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Mar 11, 2020
- Source ID
- N000142012164
Entities
People
- Kevin W Plaxco
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of California, Santa Barbara