Mar 8 2024Reviewed by Lexie Corner
A novel device tested in pigs allows for the monitoring and early discovery of changes in pH in deep tissues caused by post-operative leaks after gastrointestinal surgery. These leaks tend to occur at high rates about 3 to 7 days after surgery and can be deadly if not detected promptly, necessitating continuous monitoring.
However, detecting these leaks early on is still a challenge. To tackle this issue, Jaiqi Liu and his colleagues created a new type of pH-responsive material for real-time ultrasound monitoring of pH variations that signal leaks from healing surgical connections after gastrointestinal surgery. They named their bioresorbable, shape-adaptable, ultrasound-readable material “BioSUM.”
The slim, implantable device consists of small metal disks embedded in a pH-responsive hydrogel. As the patient recovers, ultrasound measures the distance between these metal disks. If a leak occurs, the hydrogel reacts to the pH change by swelling, which pushes the metal disks apart, indicating a complication.
This could enable intervention before additional organ damage occurs. Additionally, the hydrogel can be adjusted to match the pH range of the specific implantation site, enabling the detection of leaks in various gastrointestinal organs, such as the small intestines, stomach, and pancreas. Liu et al. showcase the device in vivo in two animal models, including pigs with a gastrointestinal tract akin to humans.
“Monitoring technologies that meet societal demands for precise, personalized, and convenient health care are on the rise. BioSUM, in its current iteration, introduces a platform technology that yields the potential to fit within a repertoire of emerging monitoring tools, such as capsule-based diagnostics and ophthalmic imaging techniques, that enhance the way that disease can be understood, monitored, and managed,” explain Shonit Nair Sharma and Yuhan Lee in a related Perspective.
Journal Reference:
Liu, J., et al. (2024) Bioresorbable shape-adaptive structures for ultrasonic monitoring of deep-tissue homeostasis. Science. doi:10.1126/science.adk9880.
Source: https://www.aaas.org/