Wearable Biosensors for Real-Time Physiological Monitoring

This project builds on a novel sensor platform which takes the enzyme from glucometers (PQQGDH), and uses synthetic biology to re-engineer it into a biosensor that requires a chosen biomarker for activation. This provides sensitive and specific detection of biomarkers suitable for continuous readout. Although pandemic related delays and a death of one of the chief investigators significantly impacted the project, substantial outputs were completed.Functional biosensor electrodes were developed first by entrapping developed biosensors through dialysis membrane entrapment, and subsequently by employing orientated immobilization and performance evaluation of the PQQ-GDH functionalized electrodes, including in biofluids.A modified sensor architecture using caged peptide and a switchable luminescent/fluorescent readout was developed. Finally, the rate of GDH biosensor activation was identified as the critical parameter for sensor suitability for continuous monitoring, and addressed via systematic optimization of the core molecular switch.