Tracking host inflammatory response due to infection and chronic disease
Inflammation is a biological response of the immune system that can be triggered by a variety of factors, including pathogens, damaged cells and toxic compounds. These factors may induce acute and/or chronic inflammatory responses in multiple organs, potentially leading to tissue damage or disease. Both infectious and non-infectious agents and cell damage activate inflammatory cells and trigger inflammatory signaling pathways. Hence, there is a widespread interest in designing technologies that will enable tracking of the human body’s inflammatory response due to non-infectious and infectious triggers.
In this work we demonstrate the viability of passive eccrine sweat as a functional biofluid toward tracking the human body's inflammatory response. Cytokines are biomarkers that orchestrate the manifestation and progression of an infection/inflammatory event. Hence, noninvasive, real-time monitoring of cytokines can be pivotal in assessing the progression of infection/inflammatory event, which may be feasible through monitoring of host immune markers in eccrine sweat. This work is the first experimental proof demonstrating the ability to detect inflammation/infection such as fever, FLU directly from passively expressed sweat in human subjects using a wearable “SWEATSENSER” device. The developed SWEATSENSER device demonstrates stable, real-time monitoring of inflammatory cytokines in passive sweat.
We have expanded the tracking of Inflammation to chronic disease with inflammatory bowel disease being the disease model. This work demonstrates the first proof-of-feasibility of multiplexed cytokine and inflammatory marker detection in passively expressed eccrine sweat in a wearable form-factor that can be utilized toward better management of inflammatory bowel disease.
Shalini Prasad (https://www.linkedin.com/in/shalini-prasad-87040aa/) is Cecil H. and Ida A. Green Professor of Systems Biology Science and Department Head of Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering graduate program at The University of Texas at Dallas. She is a bioengineer, an innovator, an educator and an entrepreneur. She received her Bachelor's degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering from the University of Madras, India in 2000 and obtained her Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering from University of California, Riverside in 2004. Prior to UT Dallas, she worked as Assistant Professor in Portland State University, Arizona State University and Associate Professor at Wichita State University, and held adjunct appointments at Oregon Health Sciences University. Dr. Prasad has published over 250 peer reviewed publications. She is fellow of American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering, Biomedical Engineering Society, Royal Society of Chemistry, International Association of Advanced Materials and the Society of Laboratory Automation and Screening. She is the recipient of the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime achievement award for her contributions to higher education and entrepreneurship. Dr. Prasad is currently the Director of Biomedical Micro devices and Nanotechnology Laboratory, which develops novel sensor technologies ranging from wearable technologies, portable diagnostics to defense and environmental monitors
