Smartwatch-integrated aptasensors for hormone monitoring in sweat

Overview

This innovative solution leverages the integration of fluorescent aptamer-based biosensors, known as aptasensors, with smartwatches to continuously monitor hormonal levels, specifically estrogen and progesterone, in sweat. By utilizing existing smartwatch technology, this approach enables real-time tracking of hormone fluctuations, offering potential applications in personalized health care, fertility tracking, and timely health interventions. The use of aptamers, which are DNA-based ligands, ensures high specificity and binding affinity to the target hormones, allowing for accurate detection.

Technical specifications

Key features include:

• Aptamers: DNA-based ligands specifically engineered to bind to hormones such as 17β-estradiol and progesterone, providing high specificity and sensitivity.
• Aptasensors: Fluorescent biosensors integrated into a hydrogel that react to hormonal concentrations, excited by the smartwatch's green LED.
• Smartwatch integration: Utilizes existing smartwatch capabilities, including light excitation and Bluetooth data transmission, allowing seamless device integration and ease of use.
• Photodiode with filter: Mounted on a prototype device to detect biosensor fluorescence, ensuring accurate data collection for hormone monitoring.

Technology readiness level

This technology is currently at TRL 3, indicating that it has been demonstrated in experimental settings. Future validation plans include testing biosensor sensitivity with artificial sweat, calibration using a fluorescence response curve, and volunteer trials to monitor hormone fluctuations over menstrual cycles. These steps will further validate the technology and prepare it for potential commercial deployment.