Monitoring biomolecule concentrations in tissue using a wearable droplet microfluidic-based sensor

Adrian M. Nightingale, Chi Leng Leong, Rachel A. Burnish, Sammer-ul Hassan, Yu Zhang, Geraldine F. Clough, Martyn G. Boutelle, David Voegeli and Xize Niu ()
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Adrian M. Nightingale: University of Southampton
Chi Leng Leong: University of Southampton
Rachel A. Burnish: University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust
Sammer-ul Hassan: University of Southampton
Yu Zhang: University of Southampton
Geraldine F. Clough: University of Southampton
Martyn G. Boutelle: Imperial College London, South Kensington
David Voegeli: University of Southampton
Xize Niu: University of Southampton

Nature Communications, 2019, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract Knowing how biomarker levels vary within biological fluids over time can produce valuable insight into tissue physiology and pathology, and could inform personalised clinical treatment. We describe here a wearable sensor for monitoring biomolecule levels that combines continuous fluid sampling with in situ analysis using wet-chemical assays (with the specific assay interchangeable depending on the target biomolecule). The microfluidic device employs a droplet flow regime to maximise the temporal response of the device, using a screw-driven push-pull peristaltic micropump to robustly produce nanolitre-sized droplets. The fully integrated sensor is contained within a small (palm-sized) footprint, is fully autonomous, and features high measurement frequency (a measurement every few seconds) meaning deviations from steady-state levels are quickly detected. We demonstrate how the sensor can track perturbed glucose and lactate levels in dermal tissue with results in close agreement with standard off-line analysis and consistent with changes in peripheral blood levels.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-10401-y

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