Scientists at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz have developed a novel type of implantable sensor which can operate in the body for several months.
Professor Carsten Soennichsen’s research group has been using gold nanoparticles as sensors to detect tiny amounts of proteins in microscopic flow cells for many years.
To prevent the tiny particles from swimming away or being degraded by immune cells, they are embedded in a porous hydrogel with a tissue-like consistency.
Thanks to the color-stable gold nanoparticles and the tissue-integrating hydrogel, the sensor was found to remain mechanically and optically stable over several months.
As they can be easily coated with various different receptors, they are an ideal platform for implantable sensors,” explained Dr.
In future, gold nanoparticle-based implantable sensors could be used to observe concentrations of different biomarkers or drugs in the body simultaneously.
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