Ingestible Gastrointestinal Biosensor
Andrea Danti @ stock.adobe.com
A pill-sized biosensor designed to detect chemical substances in the gastrointestinal tract of humans and animals. The tiny equipment functions as an analytical device composed of a bio-receptor (such as an enzyme, antibody or genetically engineered probiotic bacteria), a transducer made of semi-conducting material, and a signal amplifier.
The receptor is biologically derived or bioengineered and is designed to recognize, interact or bind with a certain biomarker, which helps detecting the status of health or disease. When a reaction occurs, the transducer translates this signal in a physiochemical manner. This information is then transmitted to a patch on the user's skin with the signal amplifier, which can then be transferred to a mobile phone or a local system. This solution can be used for human or livestock well-being surveillance, screening for early detection, chronic disease treatment, or medication adherence.