Researchers Create Implantable Gadget for Instant Inflammation Surveillance
Revolutionary Protein Monitoring Device Developed at Northwestern University
Northwestern University researchers have created an implantable device that can monitor fluctuating protein levels in the body in real-time, opening up numerous applications for monitoring health. The groundbreaking technology could help clinicians intervene earlier in inflammatory diseases and conditions like diabetes and heart failure.
The microdevice, thin and similar in width to three human hairs, works using a novel, rapid regeneration method. This allows for real-time measurement of a broad range of protein biomarkers inside the body, regenerating in under 1 minute for continuous monitoring. The device houses engineered living cells called "cell factories," which can produce and deliver biologic drugs directly inside the body in a controlled, sustained way.
The device was successfully implanted into diabetic rats and monitored changes in inflammatory protein levels during fasting or insulin administration. It demonstrated high accuracy and sensitivity in measuring inflammatory protein biomarkers, such as cytokines associated with inflammation and biomarkers relevant to heart failure.
Shana O. Kelley, the study's lead researcher, compared the device's functionality to a continuous glucose monitor. She believes that continuous monitoring could revolutionize patient care, similar to how continuous glucose monitoring has impacted diabetes management. This technology could enable proactive adjustments to treatment regimens based on real-time data.
Hossein Zargartalebi, a postdoctoral fellow, developed a method using an alternating electric field to oscillate the DNA strands, effectively releasing the captured proteins and resetting the sensor for new measurements. Traditional DNA receptors tend to hold onto proteins too tightly, preventing real-time measurement, but this device overcomes this limitation.
The challenge of creating sensors for larger and more complex proteins has been significant, but this innovation addresses this issue. Kelley envisions broader applications for this technology, including tracking protein markers associated with heart failure. Beyond inflammation monitoring, the device’s potential future applications include transforming the delivery of biologic therapies for chronic diseases.
This technology represents a significant leap forward in biomedical engineering and patient monitoring technologies. The study, which will be published in the journal Science, highlights the potential of this device to improve patient outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and revolutionize the way we approach chronic diseases.
The device is inspired by the natural process of fruit detaching from trees and utilizes strands of DNA to capture proteins. This breakthrough represents a significant step toward understanding inflammation better, one of the most complex phenomena in human health.
References: [1] Northwestern University press release, "Northwestern's implantable protein monitoring device could revolutionize health care," 22 March 2023. Accessed 23 March 2023. [Link not provided]
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