Metal-enhanced fluorescence biosensor integrated in capillary flow-driven microfluidic cartridge for highly sensitive immunoassays.

Point-of-care testing (POCT) for low-concentration protein biomarkers remains challenging due to limitations in biosensor sensitivity and platform integration. This study addresses this gap by presenting a novel approach that integrates a metal-enhanced fluorescence (MEF) biosensor within a capillary flow-driven microfluidic cartridge (CFMC) for the ultrasensitive detection of the Parkinson's disease biomarker, aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase complex interacting multi-functional protein 2 (AIMP-2). Crucial point to this approach is the orientation-controlled immobilization of capture antibody on a nanodimple-structured MEF substrate within the CFMC. This strategy significantly enhances fluorescence signals without quenching, enabling accurate quantification of low-concentration AIMP-2 using a simple digital fluorescence microscope with a light-emitting diode excitation source and a digital camera. The resulting platform exhibits exceptional sensitivity, achieving a limit of detection in the pg/mL range for AIMP-2 in human serum. Additionally, the CFMC design incorporates a capillary-driven passive sample transport mechanism, eliminating the need for external pumps and further simplifying the detection process. Overall, this work demonstrates the successful integration of MEF biosensing with capillary microfluidics for point-of-care applications.

Fully Stretchable Capillary Microfluidics-Integrated Nanoporous Gold Electrochemical Sensor for Wearable Continuous Glucose Monitoring.

Biosensor systems for wearable continuous monitoring are desired to be developed into conformal patch platforms. However, developing such patches is very challenging owing to the difficulty of imparting materials and components with both high stretchability and high performance. Herein, we report a fully stretchable microfluidics-integrated glucose sensor patch comprised of an omnidirectionally stretchable nanoporous gold (NPG) electrochemical biosensor and a stretchable passive microfluidic device. A highly electrocatalytic NPG electrode was formed on a stress-absorbing 3D micropatterned polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrate to confer mechanical stretchability, high sensitivity, and durability in non-enzymatic glucose detection. A thin, stretchable, and tough microfluidic device was made by embedding stretchable cotton fabric as a capillary into a thin polyurethane nanofiber-reinforced PDMS channel, enabling collection and passive, accurate delivery of sweat from skin to the electrode surface, with excellent replacement capability. The integrated glucose sensor patch demonstrated excellent ability to continuously and accurately monitor the sweat glucose level.

Techniques for Improving the Reliability of Prosthesis Wearer Muscle Signals Using Pressure and EMG Sensors.

In this study, we propose a technique to increase the reliability of muscle signals in case of weak muscle signal measurements using pressure sensors in a prosthesis wearer for measuring the degree of contraction of the muscle. This technique is applied when determining the intention of the wearer of an intelligent prosthesis. Through this technique, it is possible to determine the intention of a prosthesis wearer, which was previously not possible.

A study on the operation of rehabilitation interfaces in active rehabilitation exercises for upper limb hemiplegic patients: Interfaces for lateral and bilateral exercises.

BACKGROUND: For implementing autonomous rehabilitation exercises for upper limb hemiplegic patients, interfaces and a rehabilitation scenario that allow lateral and bilateral motions in a rehabilitation exercise robot are proposed. OBJECTIVE: The proposed method measures the motion information generated from the unaffected part and projects it to an affected part in which the affected part expresses motions of the unaffected part. METHODS: Both the accelerometer and gyro data were merged for estimating the motion information of the unaffected part. Also, HDR and complementary filters were applied to improve measurement errors in a data merging process. RESULTS: For verifying the proposed method, a device, which is similar to a human body joint, was fabricated. Then, the angular values estimated by using an inertial sensor and the encoder values from the device were compared. In addition, a camera analysis was used to verify the proposed rehabilitation scenario by applying the rehabilitation interface proposed in this study to an exo-skeleton robot arm. CONCLUSION: It is possible to apply the method proposed in this study to the control variables in different upper limb rehabilitation exercise robots. Thus, it is expected that patient centered active lateral/bilateral rehabilitation exercises can be performed through this interface method.