UCLA researchers in the department of Bioengineering have developed a soft biodegradable hydrogel that is capable of functioning in biocompatible biosensors.
BACKGROUND
Biosensors are physical devices that combine a physiochemical detector with a biological component. The use of biosensors has revolutionized a number of industries including the medical industry. While early biosensors detected only physical movement newer iterations are capable of detecting molecules including biomarkers of disease severity. Some biosensors function as a wearable device that can be applied non-invasively while others are implanted within the body. Despite the location of the biosensor, biocompatibility is a common issue: pertaining to material. Advances to address biocompatibility have led to biosensors that are often inflexible, which can increase irritation to the site of attachment. New biosensors that offer “soft” materials, can still suffer from irritation at the site of attachment. Additionally, the material used in many of the modern biosensors are elastomers who either never break down or release materials that the body cannot process. It is therefore imperative that the next generation of biosensors need to be mechanically biocompatible with human biology as well as biodegradable to reduce the toxicity issues that current biosensors have.
INNOVATION
UCLA researchers in the department of Bioengineering have developed a novel, soft hydrogel that is biodegradable and capable of functioning in biosensors. The material when used to construct a wearable biosensor will have enough mechanical rigidity to stay intact in the body but be soft enough that irritation at the site of attachment is not an issue. Furthermore, due to the biodegrability of the material, concerns of toxicity can be avoided. The development of this novel biosensor construct could hold enormous implications for the widespread use of biosensors in healthcare.
POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS:
• External wearable biosensor
• Internal biosensor
• Alternative hydrogel technologies
ADVANTAGES:
• Soft/ Similar biomechanics to human physiology
• Transparent
• Biodegradable
DEVELOPMENT-TO-DATE: Gelma has been developed and validated in a biodegradable soft microneedle biosensor.
RELATED PAPERS:
1. Luo Z, Sun W, Fang J, Lee K, Li S, Gu Z, Dokmeci MR, Khademhosseini A. Biodegradable Gelatin Methacryloyl Microneedles for Transdermal Drug Delivery. Adv Healthc Mater. 2019 Feb;8(3):e1801054.
2. Biodegradable Gelatin Methacryloyl Microneedles For Transdermal Drug Delivery, UCLA patent 2019-036-1.