Biosensors for Physiological Monitoring from Bacterial Mining
Abstract
Approved for Public ReleaseAbstractWearable biosensor devices for monitoring warfighter physiological status will advance military readiness and performance. While many wearable devices have been developed to harness this potential, the available biosensors to enable wearable devices are extremely limited. We have developed a solution that leverages an enormous and untapped reservoir for portable, inexpensive and diverse sensing parts: microbes. Microbes have evolved over 3 billion years to detect and respond to virtuallyall stimuli relevant to human biology, biotechnology, and our environment. We have implemented a platform to identify and isolate novel microbial sensing parts for any target analyte. Our platform uses a combination of genomics and functional assays to screen microbial samples for genes coding for molecular sensing parts specific for a target analyte. Once identified, these genes can be rapidly isolated and optimized for sensing using both protein engineering and directed evolution. The proteins can then be engineered into proprietary electronic sensor devices using a growing technology portfolio. Using our platform and technologies, we propose the following. We will develop real-time, continuous, electrochemical sensors for cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine based on novelproteins we have previously identified using our screening platform. We will validate these novel sensors for sweat and interstitial fluid sensing using our wearable monitoring device. We will use our screening platform to identify sensor proteins for other target analytes. All validated sensors will be made available to BPMM performers for incorporation into other devices being developed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- May 05, 2021
- Source ID
- N000142112433
Entities
People
- James Galagan
Organizations
- Boston University
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy