Dulay Samuel, Rivas Lourdes, Pla Laura, Berdún Sergio, Eixarch Elisenda, Gratacós Eduard, Illa Miriam, Mir Mònica, Samitier Josep
Nanobioengineering group, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 12 Baldiri Reixac 15-21, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.
Fetal Medicine Research Center, BCNatal. Hospital Clínic and Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Universitat de Barcelona, Building Helios 2, Sabino Arana Street 1, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.
J Biol Eng. 2021 Dec 20;15(1):28. doi: 10.1186/s13036-021-00280-7.
Under intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), abnormal attainment of the nutrients and oxygen by the fetus restricts the normal evolution of the prenatal causing in many cases high morbidity being one of the top-ten causes of neonatal death. The current gold standards in hospitals to detect this relevant problem is the clinical observation by echography, cardiotocography and Doppler. These qualitative techniques are not conclusive and requires risky invasive fetal scalp blood testing and/or amniocentesis. We developed micro-implantable multiparametric electrochemical sensors for measuring ischemia in real time in fetal tissue and vascular. This implantable technology is designed to continuous monitoring for an early detection of ischemia to avoid potential fetal injury. Two miniaturized electrochemical sensors were developed based on oxygen and pH detection. The sensors were optimized in vitro under controlled concentration, to assess the selectivity and sensitivity required. The sensors were then validated in vivo in the ewe fetus model, by means of their insertion in the muscle leg and inside the iliac artery of the fetus. Ischemia was achieved by gradually obstructing the umbilical cord to regulate the amount of blood reaching the fetus. An important challenge in fetal monitoring is the detection of low levels of oxygen and pH changes under ischemic conditions, requiring high sensitivity sensors. Significant differences were observed in both; pH and pO sensors under changes from normoxia to hypoxia states in the fetus tissue and vascular with both sensors. Herein, we demonstrate the feasibility of the developed sensors for future fetal monitoring in medical applications.
在宫内生长受限（IUGR）情况下，胎儿对营养物质和氧气的摄取异常会限制产前的正常发育，在许多情况下导致高发病率，是新生儿死亡的十大原因之一。医院目前检测这一相关问题的金标准是通过超声检查、胎心监护和多普勒进行临床观察。这些定性技术并不具有决定性，并且需要进行有风险的侵入性胎儿头皮血检测和/或羊膜穿刺术。我们开发了可微型植入的多参数电化学传感器，用于实时测量胎儿组织和血管中的缺血情况。这种可植入技术旨在持续监测，以便早期检测缺血，避免潜在的胎儿损伤。基于氧气和pH检测开发了两种小型化电化学传感器。这些传感器在体外进行了浓度控制优化，以评估所需的选择性和灵敏度。然后，通过将传感器插入母羊胎儿模型的腿部肌肉和髂动脉内，在体内对传感器进行了验证。通过逐渐阻断脐带以调节到达胎儿的血量来实现缺血。胎儿监测中的一个重要挑战是在缺血条件下检测低水平的氧气和pH变化，这需要高灵敏度的传感器。在胎儿组织和血管从正常氧合状态转变为缺氧状态时，pH传感器和pO传感器均观察到了显著差异。在此，我们证明了所开发的传感器在未来医疗应用中用于胎儿监测的可行性。
