The Need
Current neurochemical monitoring technologies are limited by bulky form factors, complex fabrication, and invasiveness, which restrict their clinical and research utility. Existing sensors often cause tissue damage, lack real-time resolution, and are costly to manufacture, impeding widespread adoption for neurological disease diagnosis, therapeutic monitoring, and brain-machine interface development. There is a critical need for scalable, minimally invasive, and cost-effective sensors capable of continuous, high-resolution biochemical monitoring in the central nervous system and other bioenvironments.

The Technology
This technology introduces a new class of flexible, miniaturized biochemical sensors inspired by biofuel cell architecture. Utilizing microfabricated or microwire-based electrodes functionalized with selective biorecognition materials, these sensors enable real-time, battery-free detection of neurochemical biomarkers (e.g., glutamate, ions, hormones) with high spatial and temporal resolution. The platform’s passive, lightweight design allows seamless integration with neural tissue and prosthetic devices, providing sensitive, quantitative readouts of biomarker dynamics without requiring complex external electronics or causing tissue disruption.

Potential Commercial Applications
• Continuous monitoring of neurological biomarkers in clinical diagnostics (e.g., traumatic brain injury, epilepsy, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease)
• Integration with brain-machine interfaces and neuroprosthetics
• Research tools for mapping neurotransmitter dynamics in vivo and ex vivo
• Real-time monitoring of metabolic or hormonal biomarkers in other organs or biofluids
• Wireless, implantable biosensors for personalized medicine

Benefits/Advantages
• Minimally invasive: Ultra-small, flexible form factor reduces tissue damage and inflammation.
• Cost-effective: Simple fabrication eliminates need for cleanroom microfabrication, enabling scalable production.
• High sensitivity/selectivity: Robust detection of target biomarkers with minimal interference.
• Battery-free operation: Passive sensing architecture simplifies device integration and long-term use.
• Versatile: Easily customizable for different biomarkers and compatible with wireless platforms.