Developing a biosensor for cortisol detection

开发用于皮质醇检测的生物传感器

• 批准号: 2749752
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: University of Bath
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Studentship
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2022 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=studentship-2749752
• 关键词: Developing; biosensor; cortisol; detection

An increasingly large body of research is demonstrating the impact of stress upon our bodies. If left unchecked, chronic stress levels can lead to depression, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and many other conditions. One of the key hormones implicated in chronic stress conditions is cortisol, for which there is currently no rapid, quantitative test. Clinicians and patients are forced to rely on time consuming laboratory diagnostics and qualitative stress tests to measure cortisol levels. The aim of this research is to develop a rapid, non-invasive, real-time sensor for cortisol detection. This project will draw from multiple fields and make use of an interdisciplinary approach to solve the stressful problem of accurate hormone sensing. Some of the tools used include supramolecular chemistry to generate high affinity binding ligands, microfluidics to aid in the collection of the sample (sweat/saliva) and electrochemical characterization techniques for signal capture and amplification. The project objectives will proceed in an incremental manner, beginning with development of a rapid immunoassay, before proceeding to more complex electrochemical systems, with the long-term goal of creating a wearable device.This device would cause a paradigm shift in the diagnosis of chronic stress conditions, with the potential to provide accurate, real-time cortisol measurement. This would be far more useful to clinicians and patients and would eliminate the need for lengthy laboratory tests. Additionally, the benefits extend to the general population, wherein lay-persons can obtain critical information about the workings of their body in a non-invasive and time-efficient manner. This project aims to help democratize the power of rapid diagnostics and enable people to make better choices with their health.The research aligns with the goals of the funding body, the GW4 MRC DTP, in their attempt to better understand neurobiology and mental health. Cortisol plays the role of a master hormone in many facets of human metabolism and behaviour - this project will aid in the refinement of theories surrounding its median levels, dysregulation, circadian rhythms, etc.

越来越多的研究表明压力对我们身体的影响。如果不加以控制，慢性压力水平可能会导致抑郁、肥胖、心血管疾病、糖尿病和许多其他疾病。与慢性压力状况有关的关键激素之一是皮质醇，目前尚无快速、定量的测试。临床医生和患者被迫依赖耗时的实验室诊断和定性压力测试来测量皮质醇水平。这项研究的目的是开发一种快速、非侵入性、实时的皮质醇检测传感器。该项目将借鉴多个领域的知识，利用跨学科的方法来解决准确激素传感的压力问题。使用的一些工具包括产生高亲和力结合配体的超分子化学、帮助收集样品（汗液/唾液）的微流体以及用于信号捕获和放大的电化学表征技术。该项目的目标将以渐进的方式进行，从开发快速免疫测定开始，然后再转向更复杂的电化学系统，长期目标是创建可穿戴设备。该设备将导致慢性病诊断的范式转变压力条件下，有可能提供准确、实时的皮质醇测量。这对临床医生和患者来说更加有用，并且无需进行冗长的实验室测试。此外，这种好处还惠及普通大众，其中非专业人士可以以非侵入性且省时的方式获取有关其身体运作的关键信息。该项目旨在帮助大众化快速诊断的力量，并使人们能够对自己的健康做出更好的选择。该研究与资助机构 GW4 MRC DTP 的目标一致，即他们试图更好地了解神经生物学和心理健康。皮质醇在人类新陈代谢和行为的许多方面发挥着主要激素的作用 - 该项目将有助于完善围绕其中位水平、失调、昼夜节律等的理论。