Novel wearable biosensors for non-invasive analysis of protein biomarkers

• Grant number: 23/10141-2
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants
• Duration: July 01, 2024 - June 30, 2029
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Analytical Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Laís Canniatti Brazaca
• Grantee: Laís Canniatti Brazaca
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química de São Carlos (IQSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Emanuel Carrilho ; Juliane Renata Sempionatto Moreto ; Khaled Abdelazim Mohamed

Abstract

Recently, wearable biosensors have received considerable attention due to their ability to quantify different analytes in real time in a simple and non-invasive way, bringing important information to the areas of health, sports, food and security. Devices capable of performing analyzes of different biofluids are described in the literature - such as tears, sweat and saliva - and in the most diverse presentations, including the modification of accessories (glasses, gloves, rings), direct adhesion on the skin (tattoos, polymeric devices) and printing on fabrics. Such devices, however, are commonly limited to the detection of electrolytes, electrochemically active molecules or small molecules such as glucose, ethanol and lactate. Therefore, despite the great clinical interest in this class, wearable biosensors capable of analyzing specific protein biomarkers are not yet described in the literature. This line of research is of great importance since such devices could help in the non-invasive diagnosis of thousands of important diseases such as several types of cancer, neuropathies and infectious diseases, among others. Therefore, we propose the development of wearable biosensors based on the adaptation of the lateral flow technique for the analysis of protein biomarkers in sweat in a simple, fast and low-cost way. Three biosensors based on different analytical strategies will be built, namely: 1) A device based on the lateral flow technique and electrochemical detection for the quantification of protein biomarkers; 2) A device based on lateral flow technique and colorimetric detection for the quantification of 3 protein biomarkers simultaneously; and 3) A biosensor based on colorimetric and electrochemical techniques for the simultaneous detection of analytes of different natures (ions, small molecules and proteins) in a single device. For each biosensor, sample collection and analysis will be performed in a flexible microfluidic device glued to the user's skin. The screen-printing technique will be used to build low-cost carbon electrodes from affordable materials. In addition, we intend to test the devices built in on-body measurements in volunteers in different health conditions, obtaining clinically relevant data on the composition of sweat. During the execution of the project, the developed techniques can be applied, still, in the development of other wearable biosensors. Since the developed platforms can be adjusted for the detection of different proteins from the selection of suitable antibodies, it is expected that such devices will considerably expand the number of biomolecules that can be analyzed by wearable devices in sweat, generating great impact mainly in the area of health. (AU)