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A hydrogel-based optical fibre fluorescent pH sensor for observing lung tumor tissue acidity
Jingjing Gong1, Michael G Tanner2, Seshasailam Venkateswaran3
1School of Chemistry, EaStCHEM, University of Edinburgh, King's Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FJ, UK; EPSRC Proteus Hub, Centre for Inflammation Research, Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, UK.
A new optical fiber pH sensor was developed for in vivo disease detection. This miniature probe accurately measures tissue pH, distinguishing between cancerous and normal tissues.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Optical Sensing
- Materials Science
Background:
- In vivo physiological measurements are crucial for disease detection and progression monitoring.
- Changes in tissue pH are significant indicators of various pathological conditions.
- Developing precise and rapid pH sensing technologies is essential for early diagnosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To fabricate a compact, hydrogel-based optical fiber pH sensor for in vivo applications.
- To utilize polymer microarrays for high-throughput discovery of optimal pH indicator matrices.
- To validate the sensor's performance in a physiological context, specifically for tissue pH measurement.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a hydrogel-based optical fiber probe incorporating polymer microarrays.
- High-throughput screening of immobilization matrices for pH indicators.
- Characterization of the sensor's response to pH changes within the physiological range (5.5–8.0).
- Validation of the probe by measuring pH across an ovine lung model.
Main Results:
- The hydrogel-based optical fiber pH sensor demonstrated rapid response to pH variations.
- A good linear correlation was observed between sensor signal and pH within the 5.5–8.0 range.
- The sensor achieved a precision of 0.10 pH units.
- The probe successfully discriminated between tumorous and normal tissue pH in an ovine lung model.
Conclusions:
- The developed miniature pH sensor is suitable for in vivo physiological measurements.
- The sensor offers potential for rapid and accurate monitoring of tissue pH changes.
- This technology holds promise for improved disease detection and management through precise pH assessment.
