Chinese Researchers have Developed Injectable Biodegradable Gel-Based Sensors
Chinese researchers created injectable biodegradable gel-based sensors for wireless monitoring of intracranial impulses. The sensors are constructed of biodegradable, stimulus-responsive hydrogels that may capture a variety of physiological data. The use of biodegradable polymer materials eliminates the need for removal, which reduces pain and infection risk.
This revolutionary technology offers a solution that goes beyond the constraints of current clinical devices.
Physiological data is critical in determining the status of the human body, which helps doctors diagnose, treat, and detect disorders. However, acquiring accurate and trustworthy physiological data while remaining safe and stable has long been a challenge in the medical monitoring area.
The study, which was just published in the prominent journal Nature, focuses on the disadvantages of wired clinical instruments with percutaneous leads. These tools are prone to producing infections and other surgical problems, and they significantly limit patient mobility.
To address these constraints, Professor Zang Jianfeng of Huazhong University of Science and Technology led the development of an injectable, bioresorbable, and wireless metastructured hydrogel sensor for ultrasonic intracranial signal monitoring.
The sensors, which are little cubes of 8 cubic millimetres, are constructed of biodegradable, stimulus-responsive hydrogels. They also have periodically aligned air columns with a distinct acoustic reflection spectrum.
These devices, which can deform in reaction to physiological environmental changes, are implanted into the cerebral space by a puncture needle. This deformation causes peak frequency alterations in reflected ultrasound waves, which can be monitored wirelessly using an external ultrasonic probe.
This revolutionary technology allows for the collection of numerous types of physiological data, such as intracranial pressure, temperature, pH levels, and blood flow velocity.
One remarkable feature of this invention is the use of biodegradable polymer components, which naturally disintegrate in the body after about a month. This removes the need for removal, which reduces pain and the danger of infection.
Furthermore, the study team created a novel algorithm for quickly separating the coupling effects of pressure, temperature, pH levels, and other variables. A thorough understanding of complicated physiological settings can be obtained by examining frequency change data from several sensors at the same time.
The researchers stress that these devices have substantial advantages, such as lower energy consumption and negligible thermal effects. In the future, this technology may be applied to other sections of the human body, ushering in a new era of clinically intelligent diagnosis and treatment.
Chinese researchers have developed injectable biodegradable gel-based sensors for wireless monitoring of intracranial signals.
The sensors are made from biodegradable and stimulus-responsive hydrogels and can collect various physiological data.
The use of biodegradable polymer materials eliminates the need for removal, reducing pain and the risk of infection.
Source: CGTN