Carbamazepine Biosensor Development for Epilepsy Patient Screening

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Clinical Chemistry
• Pharmacology

Background:

• The San Carlos population in Chile faces healthcare disparities, including limited access to timely medical controls and laboratory results.
• Epilepsy patients in this community struggle with treatment adherence, necessitating improved monitoring solutions.
• Current diagnostic methods may not be readily accessible or timely for remote or underserved populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and demonstrate the feasibility of a Point of Care Device (POCD) for measuring carbamazepine levels in saliva.
• To develop a biosensor for rapid and accessible screening of correct carbamazepine dosage in epilepsy patients.
• To address the challenge of treatment adherence in underserved communities through accessible diagnostic technology.

Main Methods:

• Design and fabrication of a Screen Printed Electrode (SPE) for carbamazepine detection.
• Development of an activating circuit to support the biosensor's functionality.
• Preliminary testing and data collection to verify the feasibility and performance of the biosensor concept.

Main Results:

• Successful design and proof-of-concept of a Point of Care Device (POCD) for saliva carbamazepine measurement.
• Demonstration of the Screen Printed Electrode (SPE) design and its associated activating circuit.
• Preliminary results indicate the feasibility of the developed biosensor for detecting carbamazepine levels.

Conclusions:

• The developed POCD shows promise for improving epilepsy patient care in underserved areas like San Carlos, Chile.
• This biosensor technology can facilitate timely monitoring of carbamazepine dosage, potentially enhancing treatment adherence.
• Further development and validation with the target population are crucial for clinical implementation and impact.