Low-cost, Connected Blood Collection Device with Onboard Biosensors to Detect Biomarkers for Human/cognitive Performance
Abstract
Human performance, both physical and cognitive, plays a critical role in the operational effectiveness and safety of personnel in the Air Force and other military branches. Cognitive and physical fatigue exacerbate each other, and both contribute significantly to injuries that come at a high readiness and financial cost to the U.S. Department of Defense. Gauging physical and cognitive function through biomarkers before, during, and after real and simulated operations and training could provide feedback on operational capacity in real-time, and guide design of future operations, simulations, and trainings to optimize outcomes. Yet, measurements of multiple biomarkers need to be simultaneous with minimal user inputs for such an approach to be operationally practical. No devices with these attributes exist in the market. However, the SatioDx patch makes this feasible at the point of need. We propose to combine three novel technologies to produce a low cost-of-goods device – 1) Satio patch which easily and safely collects blood and does not require fingerstick blood; 2) sensitive and fast graphene biosensors that has high multiplex capability; and 3) design for low-cost manufacturing enabled by a reel-to-reel assembly line of thermoformed housing and flexible printed circuit boards. This low-cost, small, lightweight, multiplex device can measure up to 31 biomarkers and a control simultaneously. All that is required of the user is to activate the patch, clean a spot on their arm, place the device on the cleaned spot, press the provided lancet, and wait ~5 minutes for a readout. In this project, we will partner with AFRL, GrapheneDx, and Neoenta Design to functionalize a graphene field-effect transistor (GFET) with aptamers to detect up to two biomarkers, cortisol and DHEAS, demonstrated to be relevant for human/cognitive performance. In future work, once additional biomarkers have been validated, the GFET sensor can be easily multiplexed to detect up to 31 analytes.
Biography
Teresa Abraham, PhD is the Vice President of Scientific & Technical Affairs of Sapphiros. Dr. Abraham is responsible for partnerships that accelerate technology development and clinical research for the portfolio of Med Tech companies under the Sapphiros umbrella.
Prior to joining Sapphiros, Dr. Abraham served as the Vice President of Scientific and Technical Partnerships at Visby Medical in San Jose, CA, where she helped launch Medical and Scientific Affairs, developing research studies with experts at leading universities to validate the performance, in-clinic integration, and health economics of the Visby test.
Dr. Abraham holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and biology from College of Saint Benedict/Saint John’s University and a PhD in cellular and molecular biology from University of Wisconsin-Madison.