Multiplexed biomarker test for wearables

Engineers in the US have created a sensor that could potentially detect multiple biomarkers and will be small enough to be used in hand-held or wearable devices.

The technology, which involves electronically barcoding microparticles, could test for health and disease indicators, bacteria and viruses, along with air and other contaminants. With the discovery of many human biomarkers over the last decade, there is now a real need for assays and detection technologies that can handle multiple biomarkers simultaneously.

Dr Mehdi Javanmard, assistant professor at Rutgers University, said: “One biomarker is often insufficient to pinpoint a specific disease because of the heterogeneous nature of various types of diseases, such as heart disease, cancer and inflammatory disease. Our technology enables true labs on chips. We're talking about platforms the size of a USB flash drive or something that can be integrated onto an Apple Watch, for example, or a Fitbit."

Bulky tech

Often detection technologies for multiplexed biomarker assays are optically-based and bulky making their application in digital health and wearable devices impossible. Now the development of electronic detection of microparticles by the Rutger’s team will usher in an era of ultra-compact instruments needed for wearable devices.

Within the device there will be a collection of antibody-linked barcoded microparticles which, by virtue of the antibody they are linked to, would bind the biomarker of interest. Once the antigen has been captured by the barcoded bead there are multiple methods – microfluidic sandwich assay, or bead diameter change, for example – that the team say can be used to detect whether antigen has bound or not

This new barcoding technology has an accuracy rate of more than 95% accurate in identifying biomarkers and the team are working to improve this. Currently, the technology is only able to test for biomarkers, but efforts are being made to improve its ability to analyse samples for bacteria and viruses.

Dr Javanmard said: "Imagine a small tool that could analyse a swab sample of what's on the doorknob of a bathroom or front door and detect influenza or a wide array of other virus particles. Imagine ordering a salad at a restaurant and testing it for E. coli or Salmonella bacteria.” This tool could be available within two years, with health monitoring and diagnostic tools available within five years, he said.