Priscilla Delgado

BME PhD Proposal Presentation

Date: 2023-09-07
Time: 3:00PM-5:00PM
Location / Meeting Link: HSRB II N600 / https://emory.zoom.us/j/98743714076

Committee Members:
David Myers, PhD (Advisor); Andres Garcia, PhD; Wilbur Lam, MD, PhD; Nicholas Au Young, MD, PhD; Albert Folch, PhD


Title: A Bio-Inspired Diagnostic Platform for Continuous Measurement of Blood-Based Biomarkers

Abstract:
Biosensors are useful tools for gaining continuous, real-time, information on the health status of patients through the analysis of saliva, sweat, and interstitial fluid. Despite being the most clinically relevant fluid that provides a wealth of information on a patient’s status, continuous measurements of blood has remained elusive. Collecting blood remains challenging as all existing collection methods damage tissue, resulting in the initiation of clotting that in turn limits possibility for long-term collection and analysis. Instead, periodic blood tests are often performed, providing only a snapshot of the patient’s condition, that is often hours to days old. To address this, I propose a solution inspired by hematophagous organisms, that will enable long-term, continuous, measurements of blood with readily available biosensors capable of measuring my analytes of interest. Such a platform technology outfitted with electrolyte and lactate sensors could be immediately useful to guiding the treatment of trauma patients. Here, I will 1) functionalize existing biosensors to be compatible with continuous blood measurements, 2) optimize a microfluidic patch and anticoagulant strategy in a mouse model to enable continuous low volume bleeding for measurements, and 3) combine and test the microfluidic patch with the panel of functionalized biosensors on healthy human volunteers.