A mucoadhesive endoluminal wearable sensory system

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Bio- or muco-adhesive anchoring presents a significant challenge for gastrointestinal (GI) surgical instruments, monitoring devices, and drug delivery systems.
• Developing effective adhesion methods is crucial for advancing endoluminal technologies within the GI tract.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel polymeric bio-adhesive film integrated with an optical sensor for potential GI bleeding detection.
• To assess the adhesive properties and performance of different mucoadhesive formulations in simulated gastric conditions and on biological tissues.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of four distinct mucoadhesive polymer formulas with varying chemical compositions and concentrations.
• Integration of miniature photoplethymographic (PPG) sensors into the mucoadhesive films.
• Testing of adhesive strength on porcine stomach tissue and performance evaluation under different pH conditions (pH 7 and pH 2).
• Assessment of skin adhesion duration and PPG signal quality in five healthy human subjects.

Main Results:

• Shear detachment forces for the mucoadhesive films on porcine stomach tissue ranged from 0.09 to 1.38 N.
• Mucoadhesive film performance remained consistent across simulated gastric pH conditions (pH 7 and pH 2).
• The developed module demonstrated firm skin adhesion for 3-10 hours, maintaining PPG signal quality comparable to traditional methods.

Conclusions:

• The developed bio-adhesive film with an embedded optical sensor shows significant potential for anchoring devices within the GI tract.
• This technology can enable a broader range of endoluminal procedures and advance the development of in-body wearable devices for GI monitoring.