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Project

SenOx: a next-generation bioresorbable oxygen sensor for tumor hypoxia monitoring

Hypoxia is a condition in which body tissues and/or organs are deprived of oxygen. Keeping oxygen concentration within a proper range is of significant importance since hypo-oxygenation leads to biochemical pathways that ultimately cause cell dysfunctions and death. An early recognition of patients with organs at risk of hypoxia is therefore critical. Swift interventions will terribly reduce the probability of organ losses and will have a profound benefit in terms of medical resources and costs. An accurate determination of oxygen can be achieved with implantable electrochemical microprobes. Making those implants bioresorbable after a certain functional lifetime would avoid a second surgery for their removal, foreign body reaction and issues related to device encapsulation like inflammation and immune responses. This property would be of great benefit for medical community as well as for patients. In view of the above, in this project we propose the development of a minimally-sized bioresorbable sensor which could overcome the limitations of current diagnostic strategies of hypoxic events. The platform, based on original electrochemical nanotechnologies, will be designed to monitor tissue oxygenation for a few weeks and to slowly degrade after this operational lifetime.

Date:28 Sep 2021 →  Today
Keywords:electrochemistry, bioresorbable materials, hypoxia
Disciplines:Nanomanufacturing, Medical nanotechnology
Project type:PhD project