The bioinspired sensors mimic the gut to prolong their stay in the blood, enabling real-time monitoring that can detect infections. Can this breakthrough change medicine? Read on.
A major challenge in biomedical sensing is the limited stability and lifespan of biosensors implanted directly in the bloodstream. These sensors often degrade quickly due to the complex and reactive environment of blood, resulting in inaccurate readings and necessitating frequent replacement, which limits their effectiveness for continuous, long-term monitoring of critical biomarkers in real-time. To address this issue, researchers have developed a modular biosensor called the Stable Electrochemical Nanostructured Sensor for Blood In Situ Tracking (SENSBIT) system, which has shown full functionality for up to a week when implanted directly into the blood vessels of live rats.
Sensor Inspired By Gut
The team took inspiration from the human gut to design the SENSBIT system, mimicking the gut’s natural defence mechanisms. The sensor features a 3D nanoporous gold surface, similar to the microvilli lining the intestinal wall, which shields its sensitive components from external interference. A protective coating modelled after gut mucosa further guards against degradation, allowing SENSBIT to remain both stable and sensitive during extended exposure to flowing blood in living animals.
In testing, SENSBIT demonstrated impressive durability, retaining over 70% of its signal after one month in undiluted human serum and more than 60% after a week of implantation in the blood vessels of live rats. Previously, similar devices were limited to only 11 hours of intravenous exposure. With its 7-day performance, SENSBIT represents a significant leap forward, offering the potential for reliable, real-time molecular monitoring in complex biological fluids.
Can infections be detected early?
The human body responds in a highly organised manner when faced with viruses, bacteria, or other pathogens. By learning how it uses specific molecules to coordinate these defences, it is possible to detect infections well before any visible symptoms appear.
While several strategies exist for continuous molecular monitoring, the SENSBIT system stands out by showing superior performance compared to other devices tested in the bloodstream. Real-time tracking of molecular changes holds the potential to transform medicine—making it possible to detect illnesses sooner and adapt treatments as conditions evolve. The development of SENSBIT marks significant progress toward this vision, aiming to push the boundaries of personalised, real-time healthcare solutions.
